of  Pr/,;^ 
FEB  15  1869 


BX  5207   .H46  W544 
Williams,  John  Bickerton, 

1792-1855. 
Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Matthew 

Hftnrv.    thft  f.ommentatnr  .  an 


V 


MEMOIR 


OF  THE  / 

REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY, 

THE  COMMENTATOR; 


IMMEDIATE  DESCENDANT  OF  THE  ENGLISH  PURITANS. 


ABBIDaSD  AND  CONDENSED  FROM  THE  LIFB 


BY  J.  B.  WILLIAMS,  ESQ.,  P.S.  A, 


The  righteous  shall  ho  in  everlasting  remembrance  — Psalm  113  ■  8- 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


This  edition  of  the  Life  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Henry- 
has  been  abridged  and  rewritten  from  the  work  of  John 
B.  Williams,  LL.  D.,  of  Shrewsbury,  England.  No  new 
matter  has  been  introduced ;  nor  has  any  sentiment  been 
altered.  But  the  language  has  been  frequently  changed 
and  transposed.  Much  of  Dr.  Williams'  book,  of  a  local 
character,  has  been  altogether  omitted  ;  other  parts  have 
been  condensed  ;  and  portions  of  tliat  which  formed  the 
appendix  of  the  original  work,  have  been  incorporated  in 
fitting  places  in  this  volume. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Mr.  Henry's  Birth — Education — Alarming  sickness — 
Memorial  of  mercies — Self-examination,  and  evi- 
dences of  true  grace — Inclination  to  the  Ministry, 
and  habits — Removal  to  Mr.  Dooiittle's  Academy — 
His  return  to  Broad  Oak,  9 


CHAPTER  II. 

Study  of  the  law  at  Gray's  Inn — Habits — Correspond- 
ence— Trial  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Baxter — Visit  to  Mr. 
Baxter  in  prison — Conespondence,    .       .       .  .21 


CHAPTER  III. 

His  return  to  Broad  Oak — His  Preaching — Visits  Ches- 
ter— Invitations  to  the  Ministerial  Office  there — Self- 
examination  before  Ordination — His  Ordination,  .      .  38 


CHAPTER  IV. 

His  settlement  at  Chester — Marriage  to  Miss  Hardware — 
Death  of  Mrs.  Henry — Marriage  to  Miss  Warburton — 
Family  afflictions,  and  reflections  upon  them,     .       .  59 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Death  of  Mr.  Warburton — Death  of  Philip  Henry — Re- 
flections on  the  event — Further  bereavements,  and 
Letter  occasioned  by  them — Death  of  his  daughter 
Ann — Devout  exercises  on  his  Birthday  and  the  close 
of  the  year — Attention  to  the  orphan  cliildren  of  Mrs. 
Radford,  70 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Devout  commencement  of  the  year — Self-dedication — 
Birthday  memorials — Reflections  and  resolutions  at  the 
close  and  commencement  of  the  year.       .       .  .88 


CHAPTER  VH. 

Journey  to  London — Hears  John  Howe — Mr.  Henry's 
general  health  good — Sudden  seizure  and  sickness — 
Anniversary  reflections — Death  of  Mr.  Henrj^s  mother 
— Anniversary  reflections,        .....  106 


CHAPTER  VHL 

Invitations  to  remove  to  London — An  invitation  from 
Hackney  renewed — His  determination  to  leave  Ches- 
ter— His  reasons  for  this  determination — Birthday  me- 
morial,  119 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Some  account  of  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Henry  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  ministry  at  Chester,     .       .  129 


CHAPTER  X. 


Exhortations  delivered  by  Mr.  Henry  to  ministers,  at 
their  ordination  to  the  sacred  office,  .       .       .  .150 


CONTENTS. 


7 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Commencement  of  his  labors  at  Hackney — His  indefati- 
gable exertions — Anniversary  reflections — Attention 
to  the  young — His  patronage  of  charity-schools — His 
declining  health — Visits  Chester — Is  laid  aside  by  sick- 
ness— Relapses  again — Birthday  memorial — Devout 
commencement  of  the  last  year  of  his  life — Journey  to 
Chester — His  last  Sabbaths  on  earth — Sets  out  for 
London — Sickness  on  the  road — His  death — Funeral 
— Funeral  sermons,  164 


CHAPTER  XII. 

His  domestic  habits — Parental  tenderness — Family  wor- 
ship— His  friendships — His  diligence  and  improvement 
of  time — His  Christian  love — Hatred  of  censoriousness 
— His  candor  and  moderation — His  prudence  and  be- 
nevolence— His  humility,  and  dependence  on  divine 
assistance — His  submission  under  trials — His  piety  to- 
wards God  and  devotional  habits,  the  basis  of  his  char- 
acter and  attainments — His  views  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
counsels  concerning  its  sanctification,        .       .       .  177 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

His  commencement  of  the  Exposition — List  of  its  contin- 
uators — Remarks  made  in  his  diary  during  the  progress 
of  commenting — Opinions  of  worthy  divines  concern- 
ing the  Commentary — Mr.  Henry's  superlative  attach- 
ment to  the  Bible,  208 


REV. 


MEMOIR 

OF  THE 

MATTHEW  HENRY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Mr.  Henry's  Birth — Education — Alarming  Sickness — Memo- 
rial of  Mercies — Self-examination,  and  Evidences  of  True 
Grace — Inclination  to  the  Ministry,  and  habits — Removal 
to  Mr.  Doolittle's  Academy — His  Return  to  Broad  Oak. 

Matthew  Henry  was  the  second  son  of  the  Rev. 
Phihp  Henry,  and  was  born  October  18,  1662,  at 
Broad  Oak,  in  the  township  of  Iscoyd,  FHntshire, 
North  Wales.  His  birth  was  in  the  year  of  the  cel- 
ebrated Act  of  Conformity,  which  ejected  his  father, 
and  two  thousand  other  servants  of  Christ,  from  the 
Gospel  ministry. 

During  infancy  his  health  was  delicate ;  and  his 
life  was  threatened  by  a  disease  which  had  already 
removed  his  brother  John  to  heaven.  But  God, 
who  had  a  great  work  for  him  to  do,  spared  the 
tender  grape  for  the  blessing  which  was  in  it ;  for 
he  afterwards  became  a  great  blessing  to  his  family, 
t©  the  church,  and  to  the  world. 


10  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

At  a  very  early  period  his  mind  displayed  the 
vigor  and  acuteness  for  which  through  life  it  was 
remarkable.  It  is  credibly  stated  that,  at  the  early 
age  of  three  years,  he  could  read  the  Bible  with  dis- 
tinctness. His  grammatical  studies  were  superin- 
tended by  Mr.  Turner,  a  gentleman  who  resided  at 
the  time  at  Broad  Oak.  The  efforts  of  the  scholar 
kept  pace  with  his  privileges ;  and  childish  things 
being  put  away  early,  the  usual  temptations  to 
sloth,  negligence,  and  frivolity,  were  voluntarily  and 
happily  escaped.  His  tender  mother  was  often 
afraid  lest  he  should  apply  himself  too  closely  to 
his  studies,  and  used  sometimes  to  call  him  out  of 
his  room,  and  advise  him  to  take  a  walk  in  the 
fields,  lest  his  health  might  suffer  by  inordinate 
confinement  and  application. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  facilities  afforded 
at  Broad  Oak  for  the  attainment  of  literature,  were 
appropriate  and  valuable ;  yet  those  for  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  far  more  important  knowledge  of  relig- 
ious truth,  were  not  less  so.  There  were  the  morn- 
ing and  evening  expositions  of  holy  Scripture  at 
family  worship,  the  unceasing  prayers  of  eminently 
devout  parents,  and  the  abundant  instructions  which 
were  associated  with  a  consistent  and  holy  example. 

Some  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by  Matthew, 
when  only  nine  years  old,  to  his  father,  who  was 
then  in London,  will  illustrate  this  period;  and 
whether  viewed  as  a  development  of  progress  in 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


11 


learning,  or  as  evincing  the  effects  of  a  godly  edu- 
cation, or  as  being  probably  the  first  specimen  of 
his  epistolary  style,  the  selections  will  be  alike  in- 
teresting. He  says,  "  Every  day  since  you  went,  I 
have  done  my  lesson,  aside  of  Latin,  or  Latin  verses, 
and  two  verses  in  the  Greek  Testament.  I  hope  I 
have  done  all  well,  and  so  I  will  continue  till  you 
come."  In  reference  to  tidings  which  had  been 
communicated  in  the  letter  respecting  one  of  his 
relatives,  he  adds — and  the  resemblance  to  his  sub- 
sequent style  of  writing  will  not  pass  unnoticed  by 
those  who  are  acquainted  with  that  style — "  By  this 
providence  we  may  see  that  sin  is  the  worst  of  evils, 
for  sickness  came  with  sin.  Christ  is  the  chief  good ; 
therefore,  let  us  love  him.  Sin  is  the  worst  of  evils ; 
therefore,  let  us  hate  that  with  a  perfect  hatred." 
This  was,  indeed,  remarkable  language  for  a  child 
only  nine  years  old. 

But  the  expectations  indulged  were  soon  after- 
wards checked.  A  lingering  fever  attacked  the 
interesting  youth  when  about  ten  years  of  age  ;  and 
such  was  the  extreme  violence  of  the  attack,  as  for 
some  time  to  excite  daily  apprehension  of  his  death. 
In  this  trial,  the  faith  of  the  parents  triumphed  over 
the  agitations  of  natural  tenderness.  They  trusted 
in  the  Lord,  and  invoked  his  holy  name.  During 
this  time,  the  afflicted  father,  acting  upon  the  coun- 
sel which  he  gave  to  others,  that  weeping  must  not 
hinder  sowing,  fulfilled  the  usual  duties  of  his  min- 


12 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


istry;  and  when  hope  was  almost  extinct,  he  left 
home  to  preach  at  a  distance.  Nor  was  his  return 
cheered  by  more  favorable  appearances.  In  this 
period  of  affliction,  the  widow  of  the  Rev.  Zecliariah 
Thomas  was  on  a  visit  at  Broad  Oak,  and  proved  a 
comforter  in  sorrow.  ^  To  her,  Mr.  Henry  remarked, 
that  while  absent,  he  had  most  solemnly  and  delib- 
erately resigned  his  dear  child  to  the  will  of  God. 
The  good  old  gentlewoman  replied,  "  And  I  believe, 
sir,  in  that  place  and  time,  God  gave  him  back  to 
you  again."  And  so  it  turned  out.  Recovery 
speedily  followed:  and  Mrs.  Savage,  one  of  Mat- 
thew's sisters,  who  heard  the  conversation,  remarked 
many  years  afterwards,  that,  though  at  the  time  she 
was  only  eight  years  old,  and  could  think  but  as  a 
child,  she  was  much  impressed  with  it ;  and  behev- 
ing  that  her  brother's  life  was  marvellously  pro- 
longed, he  became  additionally  endeared  to  her. 
To  detail  the  state  of  the  sufferer's  own  mind  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  disease  is  rendered  impossi- 
ble by  the  absence  of  materials.  But,  from  subse- 
quent events,  it  is  not  too  much  to  infer,  that  the 
affliction  contributed  to  produce  susceptibility  of 
impression,  and  resembled  what  the  Scriptures 
beautifully  term,  "  breaking  up  the  fallow-ground." 

Matthew  Henry  was  early  the  subject  of  divine 
grace.  His  translation  from  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness to  the  kingdom  of  God's  dear  Son,  will  appear 
most  interesting  in  his  own  accouat  of  it.    A  manu- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


18 


script  dated  October  18,  16 75,  satisfactorily  fur- 
nishes such  an  account.  In  the  form  of  a  "  Cata- 
logue of  Mercies,"  it  details,  at  some  length,  the 
progress  of  religion  in  his  soul,  together  with  the 
evidences  upon  which  he  formed  a  belief  of  its  gen- 
uineness. He  commences  with  praise  for  such  mer- 
cies as  were  "  spiritual "  for  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  his  incarnation,  life,  death,  resurrection,  as- 
cension, and  intercession  ;  for  grace,  pardon,  peace ; 
for  the  word,  the  means  of  grace ;  for  prayer ;  for 
good  instructions ;  for  good  received  at  any  time 
under  the  word ;  for  any  succor  and  help  from 
God  under  temptation  ;  for  brokenness  of  heart ;  for 
any  enlightening."  He  adds,  "  I  think  it  was  three 
years  ago  that  I  began  to  be  convinced,  hearing  a 
sermon  by  my  father  on  Psalm  51:17,*  The  sacri- 
fices of  God  are  a  broken  spirit ;  a  broken  and  a 
contrite  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt  not  despise.'  I 
think  it  was  that  that  melted  me ;  afterwards  I  be- 
gan to  inquire  after  Christ. 

"  December  7,  1673.  On  a  Sabbath  morning,  I 
heard  a  sermon  that  had  in  it  the  marks  of  true 
grace.  I  tried  myself  by  them,  and  told  my  father 
my  evidences.  He  liked  them,  and  said,  if  those 
evidences  were  true,  as  I  think  they  were,  I  had 
true  grace.  Yet  after  this,  for  two  or  three  days,  I 
was  under  great  fear  of  hell,  till  the  Lord  comforted 
me.  I  having  been  engaged  in  serious  examination, 
what  hope  I  have  that  when  I  die,  and  leave  this 


14 


MEiMOIR  OF  THE 


earthly  tabernacle,  I  shall  be  received  into  heaven, 
I  have  found  several  marks  that  I  am  a  child  of 
God.    His  ministers  say, 

"  1.  There  is  true  conversion  where  there  have 
been  covenant  transactions  between  God  and  the 
soul.  And  I  found  that  there  have  been  such  be- 
tween God  and  my  soul,  and  I  hope  in  truth  and 
righteousness.  If  I  never  did  this  before,  I  do  it 
now ;  for  I  take  God  in  Christ  to  be  mine.  I  give 
up  myself  to  be  his  in  the  bond  of  an  everlasting 
covenant  never  to  be  forgotten.  But  hath  it  been 
in  truth  ?  As  far  as  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  do  it 
in  truth  and  sincerity.  I  did  it  December  7,  and 
September  5,  and  October  13,  and  many  other 
times.    I  do  it  every  day. 

"  2.  Where  there  hath  been  true  repentance  for 
sin ;  and  grief,  and  shame,  and  sorrow  for  it,  as  to 
what  is  past ;  with  all  the  ingredients  of  it,  as  con- 
fession, aggravation,  self-judging,  self-condemning, 
etc.  And  I  have  found  this  in  me,  though  not  in 
such  measure  as  I  could  desire.  I  have  been 
heartily  sorry  for  what  is  past.  I  judge  myself 
before  the  Lord,  blushing  for  shame  that  I  should 
aver  affront  him  as  I  have  done ;  and  ministers  have 
assured  me,  that  having  repented  of  sin,  and  be- 
lieved on  Christ,  I  am  to  believe  that  I  am  par- 
doned. Now  I  have  done  this,  and  I  do  really 
believe  I  am  forgiven  for  Christ's  sake.  This  is 
grounded  on  several  Scriptures:  Proverbs  28:  13; 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


15 


Isaiah  1:18;  55  :  7  ;  Matthew  5:4;  Acts  2  :  37, 
38  ;  3:19;  1  John,  1  :  9.  And  many  other  Scrip- 
tures there  are  where  God  doth  expressly  call  peo- 
ple to  return  and  repent.  But  hath  this  sorrow 
been  true?  As  far  as  I  know  my  own  heart,  it 
hath  been  true.  But  I  sin  often.  I  lament  and 
bewail  it  before  the  Lord,  and  I  endeavor,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  to  do  so  no  more. 

"3.  Where  there  is  true  love  of  God.  For  to 
love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all  our  soul,  and  with 
all  our  strength,  is  better  than  whole  burnt- ofiferings 
and  sacrifices.  Now,  as  far  as  I  know  my  own 
heart,  I  love  God  in  sincerity.  But  is  that  love 
indeed  sincere?  As  far  as  I  can  judge,  it  is  so; 
for, 

"(1.)  I  love  the  people  of  God;  all  the  Lord's 
people  shall  be  my  people. 

"  (2.)  I  love  the  word  of  God.  I  esteem  it  above 
all.  A  find  mv  heart  so  inclined.  I  desire  it  as  the 
food  of  my  soul.  I  greatly  delight  in  it,  both  in 
reading  and  hearing  it ;  and  my  soul  can  witness 
subjection  to  it  in  some  measure.  I  think  I  love 
the  word  of  God  for  the  purity  of  it.  I  love  the 
ministers  and  messengers  of  the  word.  I  am  often 
reading  it.  I  rejoice  in  the  good  success  of  it.  All 
which  were  given  as  marks  of  true  love  to  the  word, 
in  a  sermon  I  lately  heard  on  Psalm  119  :  140. 
*  Thy  word  is  very  pure ;  therefore  thy  servant  lov- 
eth  it.' " 


16 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


From  ibis  interesting  document  it  is  manifest,  that 
before  he  had  attained  his  eleventh  year,  he  was 
led  into  that  vital  and  essential  part  of  true  wisdom, 
which  consists  in  knowledge  of  himself  and  the  state 
of  his  own  soul.  In  after-life  he  used  to  remark. 
There  begins  to  be  some  hope  of  people  when 
they  are  concerned  about  their  souls  ;  about  spiritual 
provision,  spiritual  health,  spiritual  trading  and  hus- 
bandry ;  about  sowing  to  the  Spirit." 

Younor  Henry  attended  with  uncommon  diliorence 
upon  his  father's  ministry  ;  and  he  was  often  so 
moved  by  it,  as  to  hasten  to  his  closet  when  the 
exercise  was  over,  to  weep,  and  make  supplication 
that  the  thincjs  which  he  had  heard  mic;ht  not  es- 
cape  him.  Sometimes  his  fears  lest  good  impres- 
sions should  be  effaced,  rose  so  high,  as  to  render 
it  difficult  to  prevail  upon  him  to  appear  at  dinner. 
On  one  occasion,  especially,  after  a  sermon  illus- 
trating the  nature  and  growth  of  true  grace,  as 
compared  in  Scripture  to  a  grain  of  mustard- seed, 
which,  though  insignificant  in  appearance,  would  in 
time  produce  great  things,  his  concern  to  possess  a 
principle  so  efiBcient  and  precious,  was  intense.  And, 
in  a  walk  with  his  father,  being  unable  any  longer 
to  restrain  them,  he  communicated  his  anxieties. 
Of  the  conversation  which  ensued,  nothing  remains  : 
but  the  "young  disciple"  afterwards  told  one  of 
his  sisters,  with  delightful  exultation,  that  he  hoped 
he  had  received  the  blessed  grain  of  true  grace  ; 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


17 


and  though  at  present  it  was  very  small,  yet  that  it 
would  come  to  something  in  time. 

Could  such  a  man  as  Philip  Henry  have  any 
greater  joy  than  to  hear  his  son,  his  only  son,  thus 
early  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion?  And  how  un- 
speakable was  the  privilege  of  the  son,  to  possess 
in  his  father  a  scribe  so  well  instructed  in  the  doc- 
trine of  the  kingdom  of  heaven ;  so  signally  "  apt 
to  teach  ;"-and  so  read}'',  at  all  times,  to  encourage 
the  timid,  but  sincere  inquirer,  in  the  ways  of  God ! 
It  is  to  be  lamented  that  diffidence  or  shame  so 
often  hinders  young  converts  from  communicating 
the  exercises  of  their  minds  to  Christians  and  min- 
isters. By  such  back\y^ardness  they  expose  them- 
selves to  a  variety  of  temptations  and  sorrows  which 
they  would  otherwise  escape,  as  well  as  unnecessa- 
rily deprive  those  who  are  filled  with  zeal  for  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  of  exquisite  pleasure  derived  from 
the  knowledge  of  their  conversion.  There  is  joy 
both  in  heaven  and  earth  over  one  sinner  that  re- 
penteth. 

Philip  Henry,  like  most  of  the  puritans  and  non- 
conformists, was  distingruished  for  a  reverential  ob- 
servance  of  the  Lord's  day.  That  holy  habit  had 
been  formed  by  him  in  early  life ;  it  was  strength- 
ened by  subsequent  convictions;  and  experience 
imparted  to  it  confirmation  and  maturity.  On  re- 
covering from  an  illness,  he  once  remarked,  "  It  is 
comfortable  to  reflect  upon  an  affliction  borne  pa- 

MaUhew  Henry.  2 


18 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


tiently ;  an  enemy  forgiven  heartily  ;  and  a  Sabbath 
sanctified  uprightly." 

That  his  children  might  be  impressed  the  more 
deeply  with  like  sentiments,  and  especially  in  order 
to  the  better  sanctification  of  the  day  of  holy  rest, 
they  were  expected  to  spend  an  hour  together,  every 
Saturday  afternoon,  in  devotional  exercises.  On 
these  occasions,  Matthew  presided,  and  gave  inti- 
mations of  his  subsequent  delight  in  God's  service 
too  distinct  and  impressive  to  be  either  overlooked 
or  forgotten.  On  such  occasions,  if  he  thought  his 
sisters  improperly  curtailed  their  prayers,  he  would 
gently  expostulate  with  them ;  telling  them  that 
"it  was  impossible,  in  so  short  a  time,  to  include  all 
the  cases  and  persons  they  had  to  recommend  to 
God."  And  his  admonitions  were  kindly  received. 
In  riper  years,  those  holy  women  acknowledged,  to 
the  divine  glory,  how  much  they  were  influenced 
and  encouraged  by  their  brother's  example  and  re- 
marks. 

From  his  childhood,  Matthew  Henry  had  an  in- 
clination to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  This  he  dis- 
covered by  the  remarkable  eagerness  with  which  he 
read  the  Bible ;  by  a  peculiar  attachment  to  minis- 
ters ;  and  by  the  manifest  pleasure  which  he  took 
in  writing  and  repeating  sermons.  He  loved  also 
to  imitate  preaching ;  which,  considering  his  years, 
he  managed  with  great  propriety,  gravity,  and 
judgment. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


19 


When  very  young  he  coveted  the  society  of  those 
who  "  feared  the  Lord,  and  thought  upon  his  name." 
He  frequently  met  them,  in  their  assemblies  for  con- 
ference and  prayer,  praying  with  them,  and  repeat- 
ing sermons.  Occasionally,  also,  he  explained  the 
chapters  read,  enlarging  upon  them  very  much  to 
the  benefit  and  comfort  of  the  auditors.  By  these 
efforts,  surprise  was  naturally  excited  ;  and  one  per- 
son expressed  fear  lest  he  should  be  too  forward, 
and  fall  a  victim  to  pride.  This  apprehension  was 
expressed  to  his  judicious  father.  ''Let  him  go 
on,"  was  the  answer;  "he  fears  God,  and  designs 
well,  and  I  hope  God  will  keep  him  and  bless  him." 

The  privileges  enjoyed  at  Broad  Oak  were  pecu- 
liarly fitted  to  prepare  young  Henry  for  the  sacred 
office.  His  father,  in  addition  to  being  an  admired 
preacher,  had  amassed  rich  treasures  of  polite  and 
useful  learning :  from  this  store  he  was  always  will- 
ing to  communicate  ;  and  so  felicitous  was  he  in  the 
work  of  instruction,  as  to  be  seldom  equalled,  and 
perhaps  never  surpassed.  Having  himself  derived 
much  advantage  from  being  a.  student  of  Christ 
Church  College,  Oxford,  he  was  led,  during  many 
years,  to  entertain  a  kindness  for  the  universities, 
and  to  recommend  his  friends  who  intended  their 
sons  for  scholars,  to  send  them  thither.  But  long 
experience  altered  his  mind,  and  when  he  deter- 
mined, on  account  of  his  own  pressing  engagements, 
to  send  his  son  from  home,  in  order  to  avoid  the 


ao 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


numerous  temptations  presented  to  young  men  in 
the  national  seats  of  learning,  he  placed  him  in  the 
family,  and  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Doolittle,  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel,  who 
then  lived  at  Islington,  one  of  the  suburbs  of  London. 

Young  Mr.  Henry's  removal  to  Islington  took 
place  in  the  year  1680.  These  were  times  of  trial 
for  the  pious  non-conformists.  Persecution  soon 
drove  Mr.  Doolittle  from  Islington.  He  removed  to 
Battersea,  and  his  pupils  were  scattered  among  pri- 
vate families  at  Clapham.  But  Mr.  Henry,  instead 
of  accompanying  them,  returned,  it  is  believed,  to 
Broad  Oak.  But  whether  he  returned  immediately 
to  his  father's  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  when  his 
studies  were  resumed  at  home,  they  were  pursued, 
as  at  Islington,  with  unwearied  diligence.  At  Broad 
Oak,  that  house  of  God  and  prayer,  to  which  so 
many  good  people  often  used  to  resort,  such  exem- 
plary piety  as  that  which  young  Mr.  Henry  dis- 
played, attracted  notice ;  and  he,  like  the  son  of 
Elkanah,  was  in  favor  both  with  the  Lord,  and 
also  with  men."  Mr.  Tong,  his  friend  and  earliest 
biographer,  remarks,  that  "  those  who  knew  him, 
coveted  his  company,  and  were  delighted  with  it." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


21 


CHAPTER  II. 

Study  of  the  law  at  Gray's  Inn — Habits — Correspondence — 
Trial  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Baxter — Visit  to  Mr.  Baxter  in 
prison — Correspondence . 

After  Matthew  Henry  left  Islington,  he  became  a 
frequent  and  welcome  visitor  at  Boreatton,  in  Shrop- 
shire, the  seat  of  Rowland  Hunt,  Esq.,  one  of  his 
father's  most  particular  and  endeared  friends.  Mr. 
Hunt  was  no  stranger,  therefore,  either  to  his  at- 
tainments, or  to  his  designs  in  reference  to  the  min- 
istry. That  gentleman,  however,  advised  his  return 
to  London,  that  the  study  of  the  law  might  be  added 
to  his  other  accomplishments  ;  a  practice  which  in 
the  sixteenth  centur}'  had  much  prevailed  both  in 
England  and  on  the  continent  of  Europe.  This 
friend's  advice  was  approved  both  by  the  father  and 
the  son  ;  and  towards  the  end  of  April,  1685,  Mr. 
Henry,  then  in  his  twenty-third  year,  journeyed  a 
second  time  to  London ;  and  in  Holborn  Court, 
Gray's  Inn,  commenced  a  new  course  of  studies, 
and  one  apparently  opposite  to  those  in  which  he 
had  been  previously  engaged. 

In  these  new  circumstances  he  became  acquainted 
with  several  gentlemen,  members  of  the  same  inn, 
who  were  exemplary  for  industry,  religion,  and  virtue. 
The  names  of  Mr.  Turner  of  Canterbury,  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Harley,  Mr.  Dunch,  Mr.  Birch,  and  Mr.  Ed- 
ward and  Mr.  Gilbert  Horsman,  were  often  men- 


2^ 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


tioned  by  him  with  respect  and  honor.  Many  years 
afterwards,  when  he  had  an  opportunity  of  renew- 
ing his  acquaintance  with  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Ser- 
geant Birch,  his  diary  does  not  fail  to  express  the 
gratification  which  he  experienced  in  his  society. 

In  the  "  house  of  the  lawe  "  Mr.  Henry's  diligence 
was  constant  and  exemplary  ;  and  had  he  addicted 
himself  exclusively  to  this  study,  he  would  probably 
have  risen  to  distinction  as  a  lawyer.  Although  not 
fully  enamored  of  the  science  of  law,  his  application 
to  it  was  such  as  to  rouse  the  fears  of  several  friends 
and  relatives,  lest  the  result  should  be  unfavorable 
to  his  early  resolutions.  The  alarm,  however,  was 
needless  :  he  remained  true  to  his  original  purpose ; 
and  the  "office  of  a  bishop"  was  still  earnestly  de- 
sired, and  steadily  kept  in  view  ;  though,  occasion- 
ally, the  discouragements  of  the  times,  in  consequence 
of  persecution,  made  him  a  little  doubtful.  But  the 
better  to  effect  his  ruling  design,  he  judiciously  va- 
ried his  pursuits ;  consecrating  a  portion  of  time  to 
theological  reading ;  promoting,  among  his  particular 
friends,  social  prayer  and  religious  conference,  and 
occasionally  expounding  to  them  the  Scriptures.  If 
he  did  not  say  to  his  friends,  as  Cardinal  Ximenes  did, 
that  he  would  willingly  exchange  all  legal  learning  for 
the  explanation  of  a  single  passage  of  holy  writ,  he 
acted  as  though  this  were  his  judgment. 

While  resident  at  Gray's  Inn,  an  affectionate  and 
frequent  correspondence  was  maintained  with  his 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


28 


father,  and  occasionally  with  his  sisters.  The  vrhole 
series  presents  a  collection  of  facts  alike  curious  and 
interesting.  Before  any  further  allusion,  however, 
is  made  to  that  collection,  the  reader  may  advan- 
tageously peruse  one  entire  letter,  addressed  to  Mr. 
Henry,  soon  after  he  left  home,  by  his  father.  It 
exhibits  a  beautiful  specimen  of  wise  and  apostolic 
counsel. 

"May  30,  1685. 

"Son  Matthew — We  are  glad  to  hear  of  your 
health  and  cheerfulness  ;  which  God  in  mercy  con- 
tinue !  If  you  take  meals  at  a  public-house  daily, 
you  must  double  your  watch,  lest  it  put  you  upon 
inconvenience.  My  caution  not  to  overstudy  your- 
self was  occasioned  by  what  you  wrote,  that  you 
had  read  Littleton  so  often  over,  and  had  begun  Coke 
upon  "him,  which  I  thought  could  not  well  be,  es- 
pecially during  the  first  month,  which  affords  most 
diversions,  without  overtasking  yourself :  my  mean- 
ing was,  that  you  should  apportion  your  time  wisely, 
according  to  present  circumstances ;  part  to  reading, 
the  morning  especially,  and  part  to  acquaint  your- 
self with  persons,  and  places,  and  affairs,  which 
you  have  hitherto  much  wanted  opportunity  to  ac- 
quaint yourself  with ;  having  some  ground  of  hope 
that  you  will  improve  by  it,  letting  go  the  chaff  and 
refuse,  and  retaining  that  which  may  do  you  good 
hereafter;  for  this  present  time  you  are  to  look  upon 
as  your  gathering  time,  and  to  be  as  busy  as  the 


34 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


ant  in  summer,  the  factor  in  the  fair  or  market,  the 
industrious  merchant  when  in  the  Indies.  You  pro- 
posed to  lay  hold  on  opportunities  for  hearing  ser- 
mons ;  not  Latin  ones  only.  I  hope  you  perform, 
and  also  reflect  after,  and  pen  the  heads  at  home, 
which  both  engages  present  attention  and  lays  up 
for  time  to  come.  It  is  the  talk  and  wonder  of 
many  of  our  friends  what  we  mean  by  this  sudden 
change  of  your  course  and  way;  but  I  hope,  through 
God's  goodness  and  mercy,  they  will  shortly  see  it 
was  for  good. 

"With  yours  I  received  one  from  dear  Mr.  Steel, 
who  would  be  glad  to  see  you  often,  as  I  know  my 
worthy  friend  Mr.  Lawrence  would  also  ;  but  their 
circumstances  prevent  their  coming  to  you ;  there- 
fore you  must  go  to  them,  not  to  be  burdensome, 
but  like  a  bee  to  the  flowers,  to  gather  from  t^iem. 

"  Just  now,  this  morning,  your  sisters  Katharine 
and  Ann  are  gone  towards  Salop,  to  be  there  awhile. 
It  is  a  change  with  us  to  want  three  of  you  at  once ; 
but  hoping  it  w411  be  for  your  improvement  and 
theirs,  we  are  well  satisfied  in  the  will  of  God  or- 
dering it  so.  Ere  long  there  will  be  greater  part- 
ings :  how  soon  we  know  not ;  but  if  we  may  be 
with  you  together  for  ever,  and  wuth  the  Lord,  that 
will  be  happiness  indeed. 

*'  Be  careful,  my  dear  child,  in  the  main  matter. 
Keep  yourself  always  in  the  love  of  God ;  let  noth- 
ing come,  however  not  abide,  between  you  and  his 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


25 


favor,  for  in  that  is  life.  Rejoice  in  the  great  auc- 
tion, and  make  the  pearl  of  price  sure,  and  the  field 
too  in  which  it  is.  Farewell.  Much  love  is  to  you 
from  all  here,  and  particularly  from 

"  Your  loving  father, 

"  P.  H." 

The  following  beautiful  improvement  of  one  of  the 
most  ordinary  occurrences  of  life,  is  characteristic 
of  the  nature  of  Mr.  Henry's  mind,  which  seemed, 
as  it  were,  ever  ready  to  turn  every  thing  to  some 
spiritual  advantage.  Even  now,  when  the  facilities 
of  the  post-office  are  so  much  increased,  both  in 
expedition  and  certainty,  compared  with  what  they 
were  in  his  day,  the  subject  is  seldom  so  well  im- 
proved.   In  a  letter  dated  July  5,  1685,  he  says, 

"  It  pleaseth  me  sometimes  to  think  what  a  ready, 
speedy  way  of  intercourse  there  is  between  me  and 
home,  though  at  such  a  distance  ;  that  a  letter  can 
come  from  your  hands  to  mine,  through  the  hands 
of  so  many  who  are  strangers  to  us  both,  in  the 
space  of  sixty  hours.  But  as  ready  as  this  way  is, 
blessed  be  God,  we  have  a  readier  way  to  send  to 
heaven  at  all  hours ;  and  can  convey  our  letters 
thither,  and  receive  gracious  answers  thence,  in  less 
time  than  so.  That  the  throne  of  grace  is  always 
open,  to  which  we  have  (how  sweet  a  word  it  is) 
'  liberty  of  speech,'  when  we  are  with  him,  and 
more  than  so,  even  'access  with  confidence.'  Eph. 


26 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


3:12.  We  are  introduced  by  the  Spirit,  as  am- 
bassadors conducted  to  the  prince  by  the  master  of 
the  ceremonies.  Esther  had  access  to  Ahasuerus, 
but  not  access  with  confidence,  far  from  it,  when 
she  said,  I  will  go  in,  and  '  if  I  perish,  I  perish.* 
But  we  have  access  with  confidence,  through  the 
*new  and  living  Way '  laid  open  for  us  to  the  Father 
by  the  blood  of  his  Son,  who  ever  lives  to  make  in- 
tercession, in  the  virtue  and  value  of  his  satisfaction. 
And  if  this  be  not  a  sufficient  ground  for  that  con- 
fidence, what  is  ?" 

It  was  in  the  month  of  May  this  year  (1685)  that 
the  infamous  trial  of  Mr.  Baxter  was  acted  before 
the  scurrilous  Judge  Jeffreys,  at  Guildhall ;  and  in 
daring  violation  of  law  and  reason,  the  venerable 
non  conformist  was  sentenced  by  that  "unjust 
judge  "  to  pay  five  hundred  marks,  to  lie  in  prison 
till  they  were  paid,  and  to  be  bound  to  his  good  be- 
havior for  seven  years.  Whether  Mr.  Henry  wit- 
nessed the  public  obloquy  of  his  father's  ancient 
and  beloved  friend,  does  not  appear ;  but  the  follow- 
ing letter  details  a  visit  to  the  imprisoned  saint.  It 
is  one  of  those  pictures  of  days  that  are  past,  which, 
if  rightly  viewed,  may  produce  lasting  and  beneficial 
effects :  emotions  of  sacred  sorrow  for  the  iniquity 
of  persecution,  and  animating  praise  that  the  demon 
in  these  happy  days  of  tranquillity  is  restrained, 
though  not  destroyed.  Holiness,  how  much  soever 
it  may  annoy,  or  even  irritate,  by  its  splendor,  has, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


27 


through  the  favor  of  the  Most  High,  the  fullest 
liberty  to  shine. 

*^  17th  November,  1685. 

"Honored  Sir — On  Saturday  last  I  was  with 
good  Mr.  Lawrence,  who  sends  affectionate  respects 
to  you.  He,  and  some  others  of  them,  walk  the 
streets  with  freedom. 

"  I  went  into  Southwark  to  Mr.  Baxter.  I  was 
to  wait  upon  him  once  before,  and  then  he  was  busy. 
I  found  him  in  pretty  comfortable  circumstances, 
though  a  prisoner,  in  a  private  house  near  the  pris- 
on, attended  on  by  his  own  man  and  maid.  My  good 
friend  Mr.  Samuel  Lawrence  went  with  me.  He  is 
in  as  good  health  as  any  one  can  expect ;  and,  me- 
thinks,  looks  better,  and  speaks  heartier,  than  when 
I  saw  him  last.  The  token  you  sent  he  would  by 
no  means  be  persuaded  to  accept,  and  was  almost 
angry  when  I  pressed  it,  from  one  outed*  as  well 
as  himself.  He  said  he  did  not  use  to  receive ;  and 
I  understand  since,  his  need  is  not  great. 

"  We  sat  with  him  about  an  hour.  I  was  very 
glad  to  find  that  he  so  much  approved  of  my  present 
circumstances.  He  said  he  knew  not  why  young 
men  might  not  improve  by  such  a  course,  as  well  as 
by  traveling  abroad.  He  inquired  for  his  Shrop- 
shire friends,  and  observed,  that  of  those  gentlemen 
who  were  with  him  at  Wem,  he  hears  of  none  whose 


*  Ejected  by  the  Act  of  Uniformity. 


28 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


sons  tread  in  their  father's  steps  but  Colonel  Hunt's. 
He  inquired  about  Mr.  Macworth's,  and  Mr.  Lloyd 
of  Aston's  children.  He  gave  us  some  good  counsel 
to  prepare  for  trials,  and  said  the  best  preparation 
for  them  was  a  life  of  faith,  and  a  constant  course 
of  self-denial.  He  thought  it  harder  constantly  to 
deny  temptations  to  sensual  lusts  and  pleasures, 
than  to  resist  one  single  temptation  to  deny  Christ 
for  fear  of  suffering ;  the  former  requiring  such  con- 
stant watchfulness :  however,  after  the  former,  the 
latter  will  be  the  easier.  He  said  we  who  are  young 
are  apt  to  count  upon  great  things,  but  we  must  not 
look  for  it ;  and  much  more  to  this  purpose.  He 
said  he  thought  dying  by  sickness  usually  much 
more  painful  and  dreadful  than  dying  a  violent 
death  ;  especially,  considering  the  extraordinary 
supports  which  those  have  who  suffer  for  righteous- 
ness' sake.  He  sends  you  his  respects.  Good  Mr. 
Tallents  also  I  saw  that  night,  and  sat  with  him 
awhile.    Your  most  dutiful  son, 

"  Matt.  Henry." 

The  following  note  to  him  from  his  excellent 
mother,  containing  holy  counsel,  and  exhibiting  pa- 
rental anxiety,  admirably  evinces  that  enviable  union 
of  tenderness  and  wisdom  for  which  she  was  dis- 
tinguished. 

"Dear  Child — It  is  much  my  comfort  and  re- 
joicing to  hear  so  often  from  you;  and,  although  I 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


29 


have  little  to  send  you  but  love  and  my  blessing, 
your  father  being  absent,  I  write  a  line  or  two  to 
you  to  mind  you  to  keep  in  with  God,  as  I  hope 
you  do,  by  solemn,  secret,  daily  prayer  ;  watching 
therein  with  perseverance ;  not  forgetting  what  ^ou 
have  been  taught,  and  the  covenant  engagements, 
renewed  again  and  again,  that  you  lie  under,  to  walk 
circumspectly  in  your  whole  conversation ;  watching 
against  youthful  lusts,  evil  company,  sins,  and  snares 
from  the  world  and  the  devil. 

"  Your  affectionate  mother, 

"  Katharine  H," 

Of  the  excellent  spirit  which  was  found  in  Mr. 
Henry  even  at  this  early  age,  the  following  extract 
from  a  letter  to  his  father  is  a  pleasing  demonstration. 
Referring  to  his  father's  letters  to  him,  he  says, 

"  None  hath  been  a  messenq-er  of  evil  tidiness,  for 
which  let  the  name  of  God  have  all  the  glory ;  and 
let  us  still  be  prepared  for  evil  tidings,  not  knowing 
what  a  day  may  bring  forth.  If  we  can  make  sure 
uninterrupted  peace  and  tranquillity  in  the  other 
world,  we  have  no  great  reason  to  complain  of  the 
interruptions  of  this  world.  It  is  the  lower  region 
of  the  air  that  is  liable  to  variety  of  weathers,  while 
the  upper  region  enjoys  a  constant  calm.  And  are 
we  moving  thitherwards  ?  And  do  we  hope  to  be 
there  shortly,  where  all  tears  are  wiped  away  from 
the  eyes,  and  all  sorrow  eternallyl)anished  from  the 
heart  ?    And  shall  w^e  perplex  ourselves  about  the 


30 


MEMOIR  OP  THE 


little,  little  trifles  of  this  vain,  empty  world,  the 
things  whereof  are  vanity  in  the  having,  and  vexa- 
tion of  spirit  in  the  losing,  nor  ever  will,  or  can, 
afford  that  content  and  satisfaction  which  men  ex- 
pect and  count  upon,  in  the  enjoyment  of  them ; 
and  which  too  few  seek  where  it  is  to  be  had." 

All  his  letters  from  Gray's  Inn  discover  to  great 
advantage  his  filial  attentions ;  they  convey  a  pleas- 
ant impression  of  his  observation  and  prudence ; 
they  demonstrate  his  zeal  for  the  acquisition  of  use- 
ful knowledge  ;  and  they  exhibit,  in  the  most  unex- 
ceptionable manner,  his  mental  acuteness,  his  per- 
sonal piety,  and  the  consecration  of  every  successive 
acquirement  to  the  Redeemer's  honor.  They  were 
worthy  of  Philip  Henry's  son,  and  must  have  often- 
times proved  an  occasion  of  rejoicing  and  praise 
before  the  throne  of  God.  It  is  easy,  in  imagina- 
tion, to  behold  the  venerable  parents  perusing,  week 
after  week,  those  epistles  of  grace,  and  minghng, 
with,  overflowing  tenderness,  their  mutual  gratula- 
tions,  that  their  beloved  child,  though  at  so  great  a 
distance  from  them,  was  walking  in  the  truth. 

It  would  be  anticipating  a  future  division  of  the 
present  work,  to  delineate,  in  this  early  stage  of  it, 
Mr.  Henry's  character  and  conduct  as  a  friend. 
Yet  the  order  which  has  been  adopted  seems  here 
to  require  the  introduction  of  a  letter  addressed  by 
him  to  one  whom  he  regarded  in  that  sacred  char- 
acter.   This  individual  was  Mr.  George  lUidge  of 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


31 


Nantwich,  whose  heart  the  Lord  having  opened 
when  very  young,  and  who,  enjoying  few  rehgious 
advantages  at  home,  attended  the  ministry  at  Broad 
Oak.  His  seriousness  and  zeal  secured  him  a  wel- 
come, and  his  excellent  conduct  commanded  un- 
feigned respect.  It  is  not  known  when  the  acquaint- 
ance between  the  two  youths  commenced,  but  it 
was  turned  to  a  good  account ;  and  became  the 
means  of  eliciting  dispositions  the  most  strictly  vir- 
tuous and  useful.  The  grave  and  mature  counsels 
contained  in  the  letter,  are  far  beyond  the  years  of 
the  writer  of  them. 

"Gray's  Inn,  March  1,  1686. 

"  Dear  Friend — I  think  I  remember,  when  I  last 
saw  )'ou  I  partly  promised  to  write  to  you,  which 
I  doubt  I  should  either  have  forgotten,  or  have 
deferred  the  performance  of,  had 'I  not  been  lately 
reminded  of  it  in  a  letter  from  one  of  my  sisters. 
And  now  I  have  put  my  pen  to  paper  to  perform 
my  promise,  what  shall  I  write  ?  News  we  have 
little,  or  none  considerable;  and  you  know  I  was 
never  a  good  newsmonger ;  and  to  fill  a  letter  with 
idle,  impertinent  compliments,  is  very  useless,  and 
Avill  pass  but  ill  in  the  accounts  another  day ;  for 
sure,  if  idle  words  must  be  accounted  for,  idle  let- 
tors  will  not  be  left  out  of  the  reckoning.  What  if 
I  should,  therefore,  having  no  other  business  at 
present,  give  you  a  few  serious  lines,  which  may, 
perhaps,  be  of  some  spiritual  advantage  to  your 


32 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


soul.  I  have  been  lately  thinking  of  some  great 
Scripture  truths,  or  principles,  the  firm,  practical 
belief  of  which  would  be  of  great  use  to  a  Christian, 
and  have  a  mighty  influence  upon  the  right  order- 
ing of  his  conversation ;  and  they  are  some  such  as 
these : 

"1,  That  'all  things  are  naked  and  open  unto 
him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.'  Heb.  4:  13.  A 
firm  belief  of  God's  all-seeing  eye  always  upon  us, 
wherever  we  are,  and  whatever  we  are  doing,  would 
be  a  mighty  awe-band  upon  the  spirit,  to  keep  it 
serious  and  watchful.  Dare  I  omit  such  a  known 
duty,  or  commit  such  a  known  sin,  while  I  am  under 
the  eye  of  a  just  and  holy  God,  who  hates  sin,  and 
cannot  endure  to  look  on  iniquity  ?  It  was  a  sig- 
nificant name  which  Hagar  gave  to  the  well  where 
God  appeared  unto  her,  Gen.  16  :  14,  *Beer-lahai- 
roi,'  the  well  of  him  that  lives  and  sees  me  ;  for  she 
said,  V.  13,  'Thou  God  seest  me.'  This  would  be 
a  very  seasonable  thought,  Avhen  we  are  entering 
either  into  duty,  or  into  temptation,  to  lift  up  our 
heart  in  these  words,  '  Thou  God  seest  me ;'  and 
therefore,  let  duty  be  carefully  done,  and  sin  care- 
fully avoided,  considering  that  he  who  sees  all  now, 
will  tell  all  shortly  before  angels  and  men,  in  the 
day  'when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall  be  made 
manifest.'    Luke  12:2. 

"  2.  That  our  adversary  the  devil,  '  as  a  roaring 
lion,  goes  about  continually,  seeking  whom  he  may 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY. 


33 


devour.'  1  Peter,  5  :  8.  We  do  not  see  him,  and 
therefore  we  are  apt  to  be  secure ;  but  certainly  it 
is  so,  and  therefore  we  should  never  be  off  our 
watch.  "What  folly  is  it  for  us  to  be  slumbering 
and  sleeping,  while  such  a  cruel,  crafty  enemy  is 
waking  and  watching,  and  ready  to  do  us  a  mis- 
chief I  You  know,  when  Saul  slept,  he  lost  his 
spear  and  his  cruise  of  water.  Many  a  Chiistian 
has  lost  his  strength  and  comfort  by  sleeping. 

"  3.  That  *  the  grace  of  God,  which  bringeth  sal- 
vation, teacheth  us  to  deny  ungodliness  and  worldly 
lusts,  and  to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godlily.* 
Titus  2:11,  12.  That  the  Gospel,  as  it  is  a  Gospel 
of  grace,  requires  a  holy  conversation.  Christ  died 
to  save  his  people />o//i  their  sins,  not  in  their  sins. 
The  Gospel  hath  its  commands,  as  well  as  its  prom- 
ises and  privileges,  and  therefore  there  is  such  a 
thing  as  a  gospel-becoming  conversation,  Phil.  1:27, 
living  up  to  gospel  love  as  well  as  gospel  light. 

"  4.  That  *  Jesus  Christ  died  to  deliver  us  from 
this  present  evil  world.'  Gal.  1  :  4.  We  are  apt 
to  think  Christ  died  to  deliver  us  only  from  hell, 
and  if  that  be  done  we  are  well  enough.  Xo  ;  Christ 
died  to  deliver  us  from  this  world.  So,  if  our  hearts 
are  glued  to  present  things,  and  our  affections  tixed 
upon  them,  we  do  db-ectly  thwart  the  great  design 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  coming  to  save  us. 

"5.  That  '  we  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under 
grace.'    Romans  6  :  14.    This  is  a  mighty  encour- 

Matthew  Henry.  ^ 


84 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


agement  to  us  to  abound  in  all  manner  of  gospel 
obedience,  to  consider  that  we  are  not  under  the 
law  that  required  personal,  perfect  obedience,  and 
pronounced  a  curse  for  the  least  failure,  but  under 
the  covenant  of  grace,  which  accepts  the  willing 
mind,  and  makes  sincerity  our  perfection.  What  a 
sweet  word  is  grace  !  What  a  savor  doth  it  leave 
upon  the  lips  !  And  to  be  under  grace,  under  the 
sweet  and  easy  rule  of  grace,  how  comfortable  is  it ! 

"  6.  That  the  soul  is  the  man,  and  that  condition 
of  life  is  best  for  us  that  is  best  for  our  souls.  It 
fares  with  the  man  as  it  fares  with  his  soul.  He  is 
the  truly  healthful  man  whose  soul  prospers  and  is  in 
health.  He  is  the  truly  rich  man,  not  who  is  rich  in 
houses,  land,  and  money,  but  who  is  rich  in  faith,  and 
an  heir  of  the  kingdom.  Those  are  our  best  friends 
that  are  friends  to  our  souls,  and  those  are  our  worst 
enemies  that  are  enemies  to  our  souls ;  for  the  soul 
is  the  man,  and  if  the  soul  be  lost,  all  is  lost. 

Y.  That  'we  have  here  no  continuing  city.' 
Heb.  13  :  14.  That  we  are  in  this  world  as  in  an 
inn,  and  must  be  gone  shortly.  Why  should  we, 
then,  conform  ourselves  to  this  world,  or  cumber 
ourselves  with  it  ?  Should  we  not,  then,  sit  loose 
to  it,  as  we  do  to  an  inn  ?  And  what  if  we  have 
but  ill  accommodation ;  it  is  but  an  inn,  it  will  be 
better  at  home.  If  our  lodging  here  he  hard  and 
cold,  it  is  no  great  matter ;  our  lodging  in  our 
Father's  house  will  be  soft  and  warm  enough. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


35 


8.  That  '  every  man,  at  his  best  estate,  is  alto- 
gether vanity.'  Psahn  39  :  5.  We  ourselves  are 
so,  and  therefore  we  must  not  dote  on  any  tem- 
poral enjoyments.  We  carry  our  lives,  as  well  as 
our  other  comforts,  in  our  hands,  and  know  not  how 
soon  they  may  slip  through  our  fingers.  Every  one 
is  vanity,  therefore  cease  from  man,  from  fearing 
him,  and  from  trusting  in  him. 

*'  9.  That  *  God  shall  bring  every  work  into  judg- 
ment, with  every  secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good 
or  evil.'  Eccles.  12  :  14.  That  every  man  must 
shortly  give  an  account  to  God.  The  serious 
thou(?hts  of  this  would  eno^aore  us  to  do  nothinor 
now,  which  will  not  pass  well  in  our  accounts  then. 

"10.  That  'the  wages  of  sin  is  death;  but  the 
gift  of  God  is  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.'  Romans  6  :  23.  Heaven  and  hell  are  great 
things,  indeed,  and  should  be  much  upon  our  hearts, 
and  improved  by  us  as  a  spur  of  constraint  to  put 
us  upon  duty,  and  a  bridle  of  restraint  to  keep  us 
from  sin.  We  should  labor  to  see  reality  and  weight 
in  invisible  things,  and  live  as  those  that  must  be 
somewhere  for  ever  ;  to  see  hell  the  wages  and  due 
desert  of  sin,  and  heaven  the  free  gift  of  God  through 
Jesus  Christ. 

"  Many  other  such  truths  might  be  mentioned, 
which  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  Scriptures, 
and  with  their  own  hearts,  need  not  be  directed  to. 
It  would  be  of  use  to  a  Christian,  to  take  some  one 


36 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


such  truth  into  his  mind  in  the  morning,  and  upon 
occasion  in  the  day,  to  be  thinking  frequently  of  it, 
and  to  say,  '  This  is  the  truth  of  the  day ;  this  is  to 
be  an  answer  to  this  day's  temptations ;  this  is  to 
be  a  spur  to  this  day's  duties ;  and  this  is  to  be  the 
subject  of  this  day's  meditation,  and  of  this  day's 
discourse,  as  we  have  opportunity.'  I  am  apt  to 
think  such  a  course  would  be  very  beneficial.  Here- 
by a  good  stock  of  truths  might  be  treasured  up 
as^ainst  a  time  of  need,  and  we  mio^ht  be  able  to 
bring  forth  things  new  and  old  for  the  benefit  of 
others.  For  certainly  it  is  our  duty,  as  we  have 
ability  and  opportunity,  to  help  our  friends  and 
neighbors  in  their  spiritual  necessities,  to  strengthen 
the  weak,  confirm  the  wavering,  direct  the  doubting, 
and  comfort  the  feeble-minded,  to  say  to  them  that 
are  of  a  fearful  heart.  Be  strong. 

"  Discourse  to  this  purpose,  how  profitable  would 
it  be,  both  to  ourselves  and  others ;  and  how  much 
better  it  would  pass  in  our  account  another  day, 
than  a  great  deal  of  that  vain,  impertinent  talk, 
which  fills  up  the  time  of  too  many  professors  when 
they  come  together.  And  I  fear  it  is  a  fault  more 
acknowledged  than  amended. 

"  I  remember  to  have  read,  that  when  the  famous 
Bishop  Usher  and  Dr.  Preston,  w^io  were  intimate 
friends,  ^vere  talking  together,  after  much  discourse 
of  learning  and  other  things,  the  bishop  would  say, 
'  Come,  doctor,  one  word  of  Christ  now  before  we 


HEV.  MATTHEW  HEXRV. 


37 


part.'  Christians,  who  owe  their  all  to  Christ, 
should  be  often  tcilking  of  him.  And  surely  those 
that  know  the  worth  of  souls  cannot  but  be  con- 
cerned for  their  ignorant,  careless  neighbors  ;  which 
concernedness  should  put  us  upon  doing  all  we  can 
to  help  them  out  of  that  condition.  And  if  there 
be  any  that  are  asking  the  way  to  Zion,  with  their 
faces  thitherwards,  pray  tell  them  the  way.  Tell 
them, 

"  1.  There  is  but  one  gate  into  this  way,  and  that 
is  the  strait  gate  of  sound  conversion. 

"2.  Tell  them  that  the  way  is  narrow,  that  there 
is  not  elbow-room  for  their  lusts ;  let  them  know 
the  worst  of  it ;  and  that  those  who  would  be 
good  soldiers  of  Christ  must  endure  hardness. 

"3.  Tell  them,  notwithstanding  this,  it  is  a  way 
of  pleasantness  ;  it  gives  spiritual,  though  it  prohib- 
its sensual  pleasures. 

"  4.  Tell  them  there  is  life  eternal  at  the  end, 
and  let  them  be  assured  that  one  hour  of  joy  in 
heaven  will  make  them  amends  for  an  age  of  trouble 
upon  earth.  One  sheaf  of  that  harvest  will  be  rec- 
ompense enough  for  a  seedness  of  tears.  Psalm 
126  :  5,  6. 

"  I  am  at  present  somewhat  indisposed,  and  have 
written  confusedly,  and  therefore  I  would  have  you 
keep  it  to  yourself.  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  me 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  for  I  have  need  of  your 
prayers.    Give  my  aflfectionate  respects  to  your 


38 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


wife,  and  mother,  and  sister ;  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Wilson,  who,  I  take  for  granted,  is  with  you ;  to 
Mr.  Hopkins,  ray  aunt  Burroughs,  and  Richard  Gill, 
and  all  the  rest  of  my  very  good  friends,  if  with 
you,  as  if  particularly  named.  I  have  nothing  more 
to  add,  but  to  commend  you  all  to  God,  and  to  the 
word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up, 
and  to  give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them  that 
are  sanctified.    I  am,  your  real  friend, 

"  Matthew  Henry." 


CHAPTER  III. 

His  Return  to  Broad  Oak — His  Preaching — Visits  Chester — 
Invitations  to  the  Ministerial  Office  there — Self-examina- 
tion before  Ordination — His  Ordination. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1686,  Mr.  Henry  returned 
to  Broad  Oak.  It  was  soon  apparent  that  his  law 
studies  had  nowise  diverted  him  from  his  original 
design.  The  study  of  the  Scriptures  was  as  inter- 
esting to  him  as  ever  ;  and  his  desire  to  make  known 
the  mystery  of  the  Gospel,  instead  of  being  weak- 
ened, had  increased  :  it  was  more  intense  and  more 
enlightened. 

Being  invited  by  his  friend  Mr.  George  Illidge 
to  Nantwich,  he  preached  there  several  evenings  to 
a  considerable  audience,  and  with  encouraging  sue- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY. 


39 


cess.  On  the  last  of  those  occasions  his  subject  was 
Job  37  :  22,  "  With  God  is  terrible  majesty."  Mr. 
Illidge  observed  a  notoriously  wicked  man  present. 
With  a  \'iew  to  ascertain  the  effects  of  his  attend- 
ance, he  called  upon  him  the  next  morning.  The 
man  and  his  wife  were  in  tears.  The  convictions 
of  sin,  and  sense  of  danger,  in  the  mind  of  the  hus- 
band, seemed  to  be  pungent  and  salutary ;  and  his 
apprehensions  of  the  majesty  and  wrath  of  God 
were  awfully  vivid  :  the  wife  wept  from  sympathy. 
Mr.  Illidge  offered  up  supplications  on  their  behalf, 
communicated  suitable  encouragement,  and  pressed 
an  earnest  warning  against  wicked  company.  The 
man  taught  his  wife  to  read,  practised  family  wor- 
ship, often  accompanied  Mr.  Illidge  to  Broad  Oak, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  church.  In  appearance, 
the  change  was  universal  and  entire;  religious  joy 
was  sometimes  avowed ;  and,  for  several  years,  he 
seemed  to  "run  well."'  His  wife,  in  the  judgment 
of  charity,  died  in  the  faith  of  the  Gospel ;  but  he, 
alas,  after  a  time,  being  '"hindered,"  was  guilty  of 
very  sad  defection,  and  quitted  the  narrow  way,  it  is 
feared,  for  ever.  In  such  a  connection  as  this,  how 
consummate  appears  the  wisdom  of  the  apostolic 
counsel,  "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth,  take 
heed  lest  he  fall  I"  And  how  necessaiy  are  self- 
examination,  holy  watching,  and  unceasing  prayer. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose,  that  the  encouragement 
which  attended  Mr,  Henry's  fii-st  efforts,  increased 


40 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


his  satisfaction  in  the  decision  which  he  had  made 
for  the  ministry.  Having  been  on  a  visit  at  Ches- 
ter, and  being  invited  by  some  friends  there  to 
preach  to  them,  he  comphed ;  and  two  or^  three 
successive  evenings,  at  the  houses  of  fnends,  "he 
received  all  that  came ;  preaching  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  teaching  the  things  which  concern  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with  all  confidence  ;  no  man  for- 
bidding him."  These  services  tended  to  produce  a 
most  favorable  impression  upon  the  minds  of  the 
hearers  in  reference  to  Mr,  Henry's  ministerial  quali- 
fications ;  and  the  present  circumstances  of  the  non- 
conformists in  that  city  occasioned  earaest  desires 
that  he  might  become  their  pastor.  By  the  death 
of  two  valuable  ministers,  Mr.  Cook  and  Mr.  Hall, 
a  loss  had  been  sustained  which  their  survivor,  Mr. 
Harvey,  an  aged  divine,  was  unable  to  repair. 
About  this  time  government  granted  more  liberty 
and  enlargement  to  dissenters  than  they  had  been 
wont  to  enjoy.  Encouraged,  therefore,  by  this 
event  of  Providence,  after  having  advised  with  his 
father,  he  returned  a  favorable  answer  to  the  invi- 
tation which  he  received  from  Chester  to  settle 
there,  provided  Mr.  Harvey  would  give  his  consent 
to  it ;  so  delicate  were  his  sentiments,  and  so  scru- 
pulous was  his  conscience,  in  this  important  move- 
ment. In  a  personal  interview  with  this  aged  divine, 
Mr.  Henry  assured  him  that  if  he  did  not  consent  to 
his  settlement  in  the  city,  he  would  return,  and  de- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


41 


sired  him  to  express  himself  freely.  Mr.  Harvey  at 
once  satisfied  him  of  his  good-will,  and  pleasantly 
added,  "  There  is  work  enough  for  us  both."  This 
incident  reads  valuable  lessons  to  both  young  and 
aged  ministers. 

The  business  of  ordination  was  next  attended  to 
with  exemplary  deliberation  and  seriousness.  Not 
only  did  he  avail  himself  of  the  counsel  of  his  friends, 
particularly  the  Rev.  Messrs.  F.  Tallents  and  James 
Owen,  but  for  more  permanent  advantage,  he  sketch- 
ed a  discourse  on  1  Timothy,  4  :  15,  "  Give  thyself 

j  wholly  to  them,"  in  which  he  stated  the  nature  and 
several  parts  of  the  ministerial  work,  and  what  it  is 
for  a  man  to  give  himself  wholly  to  them — to  be 
wholly  m  them,  as  the  original  Greek  signifies.  He 
likewise  composed  a  paper  which  he  designated 

I  "  Serious  Self-examination  before  Ordination."  This 
paper  is  so  general  in  its  nature,  and  presents  so 
complete  and  unusual  a  combination  of  vigilance 
and  wisdom,  as  to  justify  its  insertion  in  these 
pages,  notwithstanding  its  length.  It  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  That  it  is  very  requisite  for  a  man  to  examine 
himself  seriously  at  such  a  time,  will  readily  be 
granted  by  those  who  consider  the  nature  of  the 
ordinance,  and  of  that  work  into  which  it  is  a  solemn 
entrance. 

"  '  Search  me,  0  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try  me, 
and  know  my  thoughts ;  and  see  if  there  be  any 


42 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  ever- 
lasting.' 

**  It  is  worth  while  for  a  man  at  such  a  time  de- 
liberately to  ask  himself,  and  having  asked,  consci- 
entiously to  answer,  the  six  following  questions  : 

''Q.  I.  What  am  I? 

"  This  is  a  needful  question,  because,  in  ordina- 
tion I  give  up  myself  to  God  in  a  peculiar  manner ; 
and  will  God  accept  the  torn,  and  the  blind,  and 
the  lame  ?  Surely,  no.  The  sacrifice  must  be 
searched  before  it  was  offered,  that  it  might  be 
sure  to  fit  its  end.  Now,  though  the  truth  of  grace 
be  not  perhaps  necessary  to  the  esse  of  a  minister," 
(to  being  a  minister,)  "  for  Judas  himself  was  an  apos- 
tle, yet  it  is  necessary  to  the  hene  esse,"  (to  being  a 
good  minister.)  "A  man  cannot  be  a  good  minister 
without  it.  And  therefore  come,  my  soul,  let  us 
inquire  what  am  I  ?  And  let  the  inquiry  be  strict 
and  serious,  for  a  mistake  here  is  fatal. 

"  1.  Have  I  ever  been  inwardly  convinced  of  the 
lost  and  undone  condition  in  which  I  was  born  ;  that 
I  was  by  nature  a  child  of  wrath,  even  as  others? 
Did  I  ever  see  myself  wallowing  in  my  blood,  in  a 
forlorn,  outcast,  helpless  state,  lost  and  ruined  for 
ever  without  Christ  ? 

"  2.  Was  I  ever  deeply  humbled  before  the  Lord 
for  the  original  sin  that  I  was  born  in,  and  the  num- 
berless actual  transgressions  in  heart  and  life  that  I 
have  been  guilty  of  ?    Hath  sin  been  bitter  to  my 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY. 


43 


soul,  hath  my  heart  been  broken  for  it,  and  hath 
my  sorrow  been  of  the  right  kind  ?  Hath  the  sight 
of  a  broken  Saviour  broken  my  heart  ? 

"3.  Have  I  sincerely  closed  with  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  by  a  true  and  lively  faith,  taken  hira  to  be 
mine,  and  resigned  up  myself  to  him  to  be  his  ? 
Have  I  accepted  of  Christ  upon  gospel  terms,  to 
be  my  Prince  to  rule,  and  Saviour  to  save  me  ? 
Have  I  renounced  all  others,  and  resolved  to  cleave 
to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  what  will  come  ?  Is 
Christ  precious  to  me ;  is  he  dearer  to  me  than  any 
thinor  in  the  world  besides  ?  Could  I  be  freelv  will- 
ing  to  part  with  all  for  Christ,  and  count  every  thing 
but  loss  that  I  may  win  Chiist  ? 

"  4.  Have  I  a  real  hatred  of  every  sin,  in  myself 
as  well  as  in  others  ?  Have  I  no  beloved  lust  which 
I  would  spare,  no  darling  corruption  which  I  would 
have  to  remain  unmortified  ?  Does  sin  appear  sin 
in  my  eyes  ;  and  can  I  say  with  David  that  '  I  hate 
every  false  way  ?'  Are  the  remainders  of  indwelling 
corruption  a  burden  to  me  ?  Do  I  long  to  be  rid 
of  sin  ?  Are  my  resolutions  sincere,  and  my  en- 
deavors serious,  against  sin,  and  all  appearance  of 
it,  and  that  because  it  is  against  God  ? 

"  Have  I  a  real  love  to  holiness  ?  Do  I  press 
after  it,  and  earnestly  desire  to  be  more  holy,  using 
holy  ordinances  for  this  end,  that  I  may  be  made 
thereby  more  and  more  holy  ?  Am  I  fond  of  holy 
ordinances  and  holy  people,  and  that  because  they 


44 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


are  holy  ?  Have  I  a  real  value  for  holiness  wher- 
ever I  see  it  ?  Do  I  delight  in  God's  holy  word, 
and  that  because  it  is  holy  ?  Do  I  call  the  holy 
Sabbath  a  delight,  and  that  because  it  is  holy  ?  Do 
I  love  the  brethren  because  they  are  holy,  and  love 
them  the  better  the  more  hol}^  they  are  ?  Do  I  long 
to  be  made  perfect  in  holiness  in  that  other  world  ? 

To  these  weighty  questions,  my  poor  soul — 
though  compassed  about  with  manifold  weaknesses, 
wants,  and  corruptions — doth,  as  in  the  presence 
of  God,  the  searcher  of  hearts,  give  a  comfortable 
answer ;  and  if  these  be  the  signs  and  characters  of 
true  grace,  I  trust  my  heart  doth  not  deceive  me, 
when  it  tells  me  I  have  some  sparks  of  it,  though 
swimming  in  a  sea  of  corruption.  But  '  who  am  I, 
0  Lord  God,  and  w^hat  is  my  house,  that  thou  hast 
brought  me  hitherto  ?  xVnd  yet,  as  if  this  had  been 
but  a  small  thing,  thou  hast  spoken  concerning  thy 
servant  for  a  great  while  yet  to  come.  And  is  this 
the  manner  of  man,  0  Lord  God?' 
"  Q.  IL  What  have  I  done  ? 

This  is  also  a  needful  question,  that,  searching 
and  examining  what  hath  been  amiss,  I  may  repent 
of  it,  and  make  even  reckonings  in  the  blood  of 
Christ,  that  I  may  not  come  loaded  with  old  guilt 
to  put  on  a  new  character,  especially  such  a  char- 
acter as  this.  Aaron  and  his  sons  must  offer  a  sin- 
offering  to  make  atonement  before  they  were  con- 
secrated. Leviticus  8  :  34.   For  he  that  comes  near 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


45 


to  God  under  the  guilt  of  sin  unrepented  of,  comes 
at  his  peril,  and  the  nearer  the  more  dangerous. 

''And  therefore,  0  my  soul,  what  have  I  done  ? 
My  soul  cannot  but  answer,  I  have  sinned,  I  have 
perverted  that  which  is  right,  and  it  hath  not  profit- 
ed me.  And  in  a  serious  reflection  I  cannot  but 
observe, 

"  1.  What  a  great  deal  of  precious  time  I  have 
trifled  away  and  misspent  in  folly  and  vanity,  and 
things  that  do  not  profit.  Tinije  is  a  precious  talent 
which  my  Master  hath  intrusted  me  with,  and  yet 
how  long  hath  it  been  buried,  and  how  much  hath 
it  run  to  waste  ! 

"  2.  How  many  precious  opportunities,  which  are 
the  cream  of  time,  have  I  lost,  and  not  improved 
through  my  own  carelessness  ;  golden  seasons  of 
grace  which  I  have  enjoyed,  but  have  let  them  slip, 
and  been  little  bettered  by  them ;  Sabbaths,  ser- 
mons, sacraments  that  have  come  and  gone,  and  left 
me  as  they  found  me.  My  fruit  hath  not  been  an- 
swerable to  the  soil  I  have  been  planted  in.  How 
often  have  I  been  ignorant  under  enlightening  means ; 
hard  and  cold  under  softening  and  warming  ordi- 
nances ;  trifling  and  careless  when  I  have  been 
dealing  with  God  about  the  concerns  of  my  soijl 
and  eternity. 

"3.  How  often  have  I  broken  my  covenants  with 
God,  my  engagements,  promises,  and  resolutions  of 
new  and  better  obedience ;  resolved  against  this  and 


46 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


that  sin,  and  yet  fallen  into  it  again ;  many  a  time 
returning  to  folly,  after  God  hath  spoken  peace  to 
me,  and  after  I  have  spoken  promises  to  God.  Pres- 
ently after  a  sacrament,  how  have  I  returned  to 
former  vanity,  folly,  sensuality,  frothiness  ;  to  former 
pride,  passion,  and  worldliness  :  so  soon  have  I  for- 
got the  vows  of  God  ! 

"4.  How  unprofitable  have  I  been  in  my  converse 
with  others ;  how  few  have  been  the  better  for  me ; 
how  many  the  worse  for  me ;  how  little  good  have 
I  done  ;  how  little  light  have  I  cast  in  the  sphere 
"wherein  God  hath  placed  me ;  how  little  have  I 
been  concerned  for  the  souls  of  others ;  and  how 
little  useful  have  I  been  to  them  !  How  vain  and 
light  have  I  been  many  times  in  my  words  and  car- 
riage, going  down  the  stream  of  folly  with  others, 
when  my  seriousness  might  have  stemmed  the  tide ! 
How  seldom  hath  my  speech  been  with  grace,  and 
how  often  with  corruption  ;  not  seasoned  with  salt ! 

"  5.  In  the  general,  how  forgetful  have  I  been  of 
God  and  his  word,  and  myself  and  my  duty,  and  of 
the  great  concerns  of  my  soul  and  eternity ;  living 
too  much  as  if  I  had  no  God  to  serve,  and  no  soul 
to  save  1 

"  I  might  mention  many  particular  miscarriages 
which  I  have  been  guilty  of  in  heart  and  life,  and 
which  are  known  to  God  and  my  own  heart ;  and 
yet,  after  all,  *  Who  can  understand  his  errors  ? 
Cleanse  thou  me,  0  God,  from  secret  sins ;  have 


REV.  MATTHFVV  HENRY. 


47 


mercy  upon  me,  0  God,  according  to  thy  loving- 
kindness  ;  and  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy 
tender  mercies  blot  out  all  my  transgressions,  for 
the  sake  of  the  Lord  my  righteousness.' 

**  Q.  III.  From  what  principles  do  I  act  in  this 
undertaking  ? 

"  This  is  also  a  very  material  inquiry  in  every  ac- 
tion, to  ask  whence  it  comes,  especially  in  so  great 
a  turn  of  life  as  this. 

'•'I.  I  hope  I  can  say  that  it  is  of  faith  ;  and  I 
am  concerned  it  should  be  so,  for  *  whatsoever  is  not 
of  faith  is  sin.'  It  is  good  for  every  man  that  he  be 
fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind.  Xow, 

"  (1.)  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  Jesus  Christ,  as 
King  of  the  church,  hath  appointed  and  established 
the  office  of  the  ministry,  to  continue  in  a  constant 
succession  to  the  end  of  time,  for  the  edification  of 
the  church,  and  has  promised  to  be  with  his  minis- 
ters always,  to  the  end  of  the  world.  So  that  the 
office  of  the  ministry  is  no  human  invention,  but  a 
divine  institution. 

*'  (2.)  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  no  man  ought 
to  thrusi  himself  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
without  a  clear  call  from  God  to  it.  Not  that  we 
are  to  expect  such  extraordinary  calls  as  the  apostles 
had,  but  the  ordinary  call,  by  the  mediation  of  min- 
isters, who,  as  such,  are  authorized  by  Christ  to  try 
the  abilities  of  those  who  offer  themselves  to  the 
ministry ;  and  if  they  find  them  fit,  then  to  set  them 


48 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


apart  to  that  work,  in  a  solemn  manner,  by  the  im- 
position of  hands,  with  fasting  and  prayer  ;  and  that 
*  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery '  is 
the  regular  way  of  ordination,  and  most  agreeable 
to  Scripture. 

(3.)  I  bless  God  that  I  am  pretty  well  satisfied 
with  the  clearness  of  my  call  to  the  work,  though  I 
cannot  but  be  sensible  of  great  weakness  and  insuf- 
ficiency for  these  things ;  yet  I  find  that  what  abil- 
ities God  has  been  pleased  to  give  me,  (and  let  him 
have  all  the  glory,)  do  evidently  look  towards  this 
work ;  so  that  if  I  be  in  any  measure  qualified  for 
any  service,  it  is  for  this.  I  find  also  my  own  in- 
clination strongly  bent  towards  it,  and  that  I  have 
been  much  excited  and  encouraged  to  it  by  divers, 
both  ministers  and  others,  able,  skilful,  and  faithful, 
fit  to  judge,  by  whom  my  purposes  have  been  much 
confirmed.  All  which  goes  a  great  wa}'-  towards 
the  clearing  of  my  call ;  and  the  earnest  invitation  I 
have  lately  had  to  stated  work  in  a  particular  place, 
doth  much  help  to  clear  my  call  to  the  work  in 
general. 

"  2.  I  hope  I  can  say,  I  act  herein  from  a  princi- 
ple of  true  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God ;  that  this 
gi-eat  thing  I  do,  as  I  should  do  every  thing,  to  the 
glory  of  God,  that  my  light  may  shine,  that  Christ's 
kingdom  may  be  advanced,  the  power  of  godliness 
kept  up,  the  word  of  life  held  forth ;  by  all  which 
God  is  glorified.    The  desire  of  my  soul  is,  that 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


4^ 


*  whether  I  live  I  may  live  to  the  Lord,  or  whether 
I  die  I  may  die  to  the  Lord,  and  that  living  and 
dying  I  may  be  the  Lord's.' 

"3,  I  hope  I  can  say,  that  I  act  herein  from  a 
principle  of  real  love  to  precious  souls,  for  the  good 
of  which  I  would  gladly  spend  and  be  spent.  Me- 
thinks  I  love  the  precious  souls  of  men  so  well,  that 
I  would  fain  be  an  instrument  of  convincing  the  un- 
convinced, converting  the  unconverted,  and  building 
up  saints  in  holiness  and  comfort.  I  hope  I  know 
so  much  of  the  worth  of  souls,  that  I  should  think 
it  a  greater  happiness  to  gain  one  soul  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  than  to  gain  mountains  of  silver  and 
gold  to  myself. 

*'Q.  lY.  What  are  the  ends  that  I  aim  at  in  this 
great  undertaking  ? 

"  It  is  a  common  saying,  that  the  end  specifies  the 
action ;  and  therefore  it  is  of  great  consequence  to 
fix  that  right,  that  the  eye  may  be  single,  for  other- 
wise it  is  an  evil  eye.  A  by  and  base  end  will  cer- 
tainly spoil  the  acceptableness  of  the  best  actions 
that  can  be  performed. 

"  Now,  what  is  the  mark  I  aim  at  in  this  great  turn 
of  my  life  ?  Let  conscience  be  faithfuj  herein,  and 
let  the  Searcher  of  hearts  make  me  known  to  my- 
self. 

1.  I  think  I  can  say  with  confidence,  that  I  do 
not  design  to  take  up  the  ministry  as  a  trade  to  live 
by,  or  to  enrich  myself  by,  out  of  the  greediness  of 

Matttew  Henry.  ^ 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


filthy  lucre.  No  ;  I  hope  I  aim  at  nothing  but 
souls  ;  and  if  I  gain  those,  though  I  should  lose  all 
my  worldly  comforts  by  it,  I  shall  reckon  myself  to 
have  made  a  good  bargain. 

**  2.  I  think  I  can  say  with  as  much  assurance, 
that  my  design  is  not  to  get  myself  a  name  amongst 
men,  or  to  be  talked  of  in  the  world,  as  one  that 
makes  somewhat  of  a  figure,  No ;  that  is  a  poor 
business.  If  I  have  but  a  good  name  with  God, 
I  think  I  have  enough,  though  among  men  I 
be  reviled,  and  have  my  name  trampled  upon  as 
mire  in  the  streets.  I  prefer  the  good  word  of 
my  Master  far  before  the  good  word  of  my  fellow- 
servants. 

"3.  I  can  appeal  to  God,  that  I  have  no  design 
in  the  least  to  maintain  a  party  or  to  keep  up  any 
schismatical  faction ;  my  heart  rises  against  the 
thoughts  of  it.  I  hate  dividing  principles  and  prac- 
tices, and  whatever  others  are,  I  am  for  peace  and 
healing ;  and  if  my  blood  would  be  sufficient  bal- 
sam, I  would  gladly  part  with  the  last  drop  of  it, 
for  the  closing  up  of  the  bleeding  wounds  of  differ- 
ences that  are  amongst  true  Christians.  Peace  is 
such  a  precious  jewel,  that  I  would  give  any  thing 
for  it  but  truth.  Those  who  are  hot  and  bitter  in 
their  contendings  for  or  against  little  things,  and 
zealous  in  keeping  up  names  of  division  and  main- 
taining parties,  are  of  a  spirit  which  I  understand 
not.    Let  not  my  soul  come  into  their  secret. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY 


51 


*'  My  ends,  then,  are  according  to  my  principles, 
and  I  humbly  appeal  to  God  concerning  the  integ- 
rity of  my  heart  in  them, 

"  (1.)  That  I  deliberately  place  the  glory  of  God 
as  my  highest  and  ultimate  end,  and  if  I  can  be  but 
any  way  instrumental  to  promote  that,  I  shall  gain 
my  end  and  ha\ie  my  desire.  I  do  not  design  to 
preach  myself,  but,  as  a  faithful  friend  of  the  bride- 
groom, to  preach  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord,  as  the  stand- 
ard-bearer among  ten  thousands.  And  if  I  can 
but  bring  people  to  know,  and  love,  and  honor  Christ, 
I  have  what  I  design. 

"  (2.)  That  in  order  to  the  glory  of  God,  I  do 
sincerely  aim  at  the  good  of  precious  souls.  God  is 
glorified  when  souls  are  benefited,  and  gladly  would 
I  be  instrumental  in  that  blessed  work.  I  would  not 
be  a  barren  tree  in  a  vineyard,  cumbering  the  ground ; 
but  by  God's  help  I  would  do  some  good  in  the  world, 
and  I  know  no  greater  good  I  can  be  capable  of 
than  doing  good  to  souls.  I  desire  to  be  an  instru- 
ment in  God's  hand  of  softening  hard  hearts,  quick- 
ening dead  hearts,  humbling  proud  hearts,  comfort- 
ing sorrowful  hearts ;  and  if  I  may  be  enabled  to 
do  this,  I  have  what  I  would  have.  If  God  denies 
me  this,  and  suflfers  me  to  labor  in  vain,  though  I 
should  get  hundreds  a  year  by  my  labor,  it  would 
be  the  constant  grief  and  trouble  of  my  soul ;  and 
if  I  do  not  gain  souls,  I  shall  enjoy  all  my  other 
gains  with  very  httle  satisfaction.    Though  even  in 


52 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


that  case  it  would  be  some  comfort,  that  the  reward 
is  not  according  to  the  success,  but  according  to  the 
faithfulness.  But  I  seriously  profess  it,  if  I  could 
foresee  that  my  ministry  would  be  wholly  unprofita- 
ble, and  that  I  should  be  no  instrument  of  good  to 
souls,  though  in  other  respects  I  might  get  enough 
by  it,  I  would  rather  beg  my  bre^d  from  door  to 
door,  than  undertake  this  great  work. 
"  Q.  V.  What  do  I  want  ? 

*'  And  what  special  things  am  I  now  to  desire  of 
God,  the  God  of  all  grace  ?  When  I  know  whither 
to  go  for  supplies,  I  am  concerned  to  inquire  what 
my  necessities  are?  The  requests  I  have  to  put  to 
God  are  such  as  these  :  ' 

"1.  That  he  would  fix,  and  confirm,  and  establish 
my  heart  in  my  dedication  of  myself  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry.  My  carnal  heart  is  sometimes  ready  to 
suggest  to  me,  that  I  had  better  take  some  other  way 
of  living  that  would  be  less  toilsome  and  perilous, 
and  more  pleasant  and  gainful ;  and  the  devil  joins 
issue  with  my  heart,  and  sets  before  me  the  profits 
and  preferments  I  might  possibly  have  in  another 
way,  and  the  trouble  and  reproach  I  am  like  to  meet 
with  in  this  way.  Now,  O  that  my  God  would  re- 
strain the  tempter,  and  satisfy  me  in  my  choice,  and 
furnish  me  with  suitable  considerations  with  which 
to  answer  such  suggestions ;  and  in  order  thereunto, 
give  me  believing  views  of  eternity,  having  delib- 
erately devoted  myself  to  the  work  of  the  Lord, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


S3 


keep  it  always  in  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of 
my  heart,  and  estabUsh  my  way  before  him. 

"  2.  That  he  would  in  a  special  manner  be  present 
"with  me  in  the  ordinance  of  dedication,  filling  my 
heart  with  such  an  experimental  sense  of  the  ex- 
cellency of  Christ,  and  the  comforts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  that  I  may  have  cause  to  remember  it,  by  a 
good  token,  as  long  as  I  live ;  that  he  would  man- 
ifest himself  to  me,  mark  me  for  himself,  and  leave 
some  sign  behind  him  in  my  soul,  that  may  make  it 
evident  God  was  there  of  a  truth  ;  that  he  would  give 
me  a  comfortable  earnest  of  the  success  of  my  minis- 
try, by  a  signal  owning  of  me  in  my  entrance  upon  it. 

"3.  That  he  would  fit  and  qualify  me  for  this 
great  work  to  which  he  is  calling  me.  When  Saul 
was  anointed  king,  'God  gave  Am  another  heart' — 
a  heart  fit  for  kingship.  I  would  fain  have  another 
heart,  a  heart  fit  for  ministerial  work,  filled  with 
ministerial  gifts  and  graces. 

"(1.)  Ministerial  gifts:  every  good  gift  comes 
from  above,  and  therefore  I  look  upwards  for  gifts 
of  knowledge  in  the  mysteries  of  religion ;  gifts  of 
utterance  to  explain  and  apply  myself  to  others,  and 
to  speak  the  word  with  boldness.  I  have  also  need 
of  prudence  and  discretion  to  order  the  affairs  of 
my  ministry. 

"  (2.)  Ministerial  graces  :  faith,  love  to  God  and 
souls,  zeal  for  God's  glory  and  souls'  good ;  pa- 
tience to  do,  to  suffer,  and  to  wait ;  an  inward  sense 


54 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


of  the  weight  of  the  things  I  speak  of.  Two  graces 
I  do  more  especially  beg  of  God  : 

"  Sincerity.  That  I  may  be  really  as  good  as  I 
seem  to  be ;  that  inward  impressions  may  always  be 
answerable  to  outward  expressions  in  all  my  minis- 
trations ;  that  my  eye  may  be  single,  my  heart  up- 
right, and  my  ends  fixed ;  that  I  may  not  cast  the 
least  glance  at  any  low,  by,  base  end. 

''Humility.  That  God  would  hide  pride  from 
me,  and  clothe  me  with  humility,  that  I  may  see 
that  I  have  nothing,  except  my  sins,  but  what  I 
have  received ;  that  I  may  never  please  myself  with 
the  praises  of  men,  but  hand  up  all  the  praise  to 
God ;  that  the  least  workings  of  pride  and  conceit- 
edness  may  be  checked  in  me. 

*'  4.  That  God  would  open  a  door  of  opportunity 
to  me,  and  make  my  way  plain  before  me,  that  the 
call  I  have  to  my  work  may  be  clear  and  satisfying, 
and  that  God  would  bless  and  succeed  my  endeavors 
for  the  good  of  souls. 

"  Q.  VI.  What  are  my  purposes  and  resolutions 
for  the  future  ? 

"  This  is  also  a  requisite  inquiry,  when  I  am  to 
put  on  a  new  character,  and  one  so  honorable.  What 
shall  I  do  that  I  may  *  walk  worthy  of  the  vocation 
wherewith  I  am  called?' 

"  1.  I  purpose  and  resolve,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
that  I  TV  ill  have  no  more  to  do  with  the  unfruitful 
works  of  darkness,  seeing  it  will  not  only  be  my  duty 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY. 


as  a  Christian,  but  my  office  as  a  minister,  to  reprove 
them  rather.  'Pride,  passion,  worldhness,  wanton- 
ness, vanity,  are  things  the  man  of  God  must  flee.' 
1  Tim.,  6:11.  What  have  I  to  do  any  more  with 
idols  ?  What  have  I  to  do  any  more  with  sin  ?  By 
the  grace  of  God  it  shall  not  have  dominion  over 
me.  The  ministerial  character  will  add  a  great  ag- 
gravation to  every  sin ;  and  therefore,  0  my  soul, 
^tand  in  awe,  and  sin  not. 

"  2.  I  purpose  and  resolve  that,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  I  will  abound  more  than  ever  in  all  manner  of 
gospel  obedience ;  that  I  will  strive  to  be  more  hum- 
ble, serious,  and  watchful,  and  self-denying,  and 
live  more  above  the  world,  and  the  things  of  it ; 
that  I  will  pray  with  more  life,  and  read  the  Scrip- 
tures with  more  care,  and  not  be  slothful  in  busi- 
ness, but  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord  ;  that 
I  will  abound  in  good  discourse,  as  I  have  ability 
and  opportunity,  with  prudence  ;  endeavoring  as 
much  as  I  can  to  'adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  my 
Saviour  in  all  things.* 

"3.  In  particular,  I  resolve  in  the  strength,  spirit, 
and  grace  of  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord,  to  consider  well 
and  perform  my  ordination  vows  ;  to  hold  fast  the 
form  of  sound  words  which  I  have  heard  and  re- 
ceived, in  'faith  and  love  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus;' 
and  never  to  let  go  any  truth,  whatever  it  cost  me  ; 
ever  owning  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  rule  of  faith 
and  practice. 


5a 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


**  That  I  will  wholly  give  up  myself  to  the  work, 
and  employ  all  my  talents  in  the  service  of  God  and 
souls,  with  seriousness  and  seduhty  :  that  I  will  not 
only  preach,  but  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  defend, 
the  truths  of  God  against  all  opposers,  and  do  all  I 
can  to  convince  or  silence  gainsayers. 

"  That  I  will  endeavor  to  maintain  not  only  truth, 
but  peace  and  unity  in  the  church  of  God ;  that  I 
will  patiently  bear,  and  thankfully  accept,  the  ad- 
monitions of  my  brethren,  and  esteem  such  smitings 
as  an  excellent  oil  that  shall  not  break  my  head. 

"  That  if  ever  God  shall  call  me  to  the  charge  of 
a  family,  I  will  walk  before  my  house  in  a  perfect 
way,  with  an  upright  heart,  not  doubting  but  that 
then  God  will  come  unto  me ;  my  house  shall  be  a 
Bethel ;  wherever  I  have  a  tent,  God  shall  have  an 
altar ;  and  Joshua's  resolution  shall  be  mine :  *  What- 
ever others  do,  I  and  my  house  will  serve  the  Lord.* 

"  That  if  ever  God  calls  me  to  the  charge  of  a 
flock,  I  resolve,  by  his  grace,  with  all  possible  dili- 
gence to  lay  out  myself  for  the  spiritual  good  of 
those  over  whom  God  shall  set  me;  and  that  in 
conversation  I  will  endeavor  to  be  an  example  to 
the  flock,  going  before  them  in  the  way  to  heaven  ; 
and  will  improve  all  the  interest  I  have,  and  all  the 
authority  I  may  have,  for  the  honor  of  God,  the 
good  of  souls,  and  the  edifying  of  the  mystical  body 
of  Christ. 

*'  Whatever  opposition  I  may  meet  with  in  my 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


57 


work,  by  the  grace  of  God  I  will  not  be  terrified 
with  it,  nor  frightened  by  the  winds  and  clouds  from 
sowing  and  reaping;  but,  in  the  strength  of  my  God, 
go  on  in  the  midst  of  discouragements :  and  if  God 
shall  call  me  to  sufferings,  which  I  promise  to  expect 
and  count  upon,  I  will,  by  the  grace  of  God,  sutler 
cheerfully  and  courageously  for  the  truths  and  ways 
of  Christ;  'choosing  rather,  with  Moses,  to  suffer 
affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  sin,  which  are  but  for  a  season ;'  and  I 
will  esteem  not  only  the  crown  of  Christ,  but  the 
reproach  of  Christ,  greater  riches  than  the  treasures 
of  Egypt,  having  respect  to  the  recompense  of  re- 
ward. 

"This  is  the  substance  of  what  I  promise  in  the 
strength  of  the  Spirit  in  the  grace  of  Christ;  and 
having  sworn  by  his  strength  I  will  perform  it,  that 
I  will  keep  his  righteous  judgments,  and  the  Lord 
keep  it  always  in  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of 
my  heart,  and  establish  my  way  before  him." 

Under  the  deep  and  solemn  impression  of  these 
scriptural  views  of  himself,  and  God,  and  duty,  and 
of  these  holy  resolutions,  made  in  the  strength  of 
divine  grace,  Mr.  Henry  applied  to  those  leading 
Presbyterian  divines  in  London  to  whom  he  was 
best  known,  for  the  rite  of  ordination;  and,  on  the 
9th  of  May,  1687,  after  due  examination  and  the 
performance  of  the  usual  exercises,  together  with  a 


58 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


full  confession  of  his  faith,  he  was  solemnly,  but 
privately,  ordained,  by  imposition  of  hands,  with 
fasting  and  prayer.  He  was  ordained  privately,  on 
account  of  the  ecclesiastical  commotions  of  the  times. 
And  the  same  reasons  prevented  him  from  receiving 
the  usual  certificate.  His  ordainers  signed  only  the 
following  brief  memorial.  Mr.  Tong  remarks,  that 
some  of  them  were  very  aged  and  very  cautious." 
The  memorial  was, 

*'  We,  whose  names  are  subscribed,  are  well  as- 
sured that  Mr.  Matthew  Henry  is  an  ordained  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel. 

"  Sic  testor, 

"  W.  WICKENS. 
"FRAN.  TALLENTS. 
"  EDW.  LAW^RENCE. 
"NATH.  VINCENT. 
"JAMES  OWEN. 
"RICH.  STEELE. 

"  May  9th,  1687." 

Thus  sanctioned,  Mr.  Henry  returned  to  the  coun- 
try, determined,  in  dependence  upon  divine  aid,  to 
"serve  God  with  his  spirit  in  the  Gospel  of  his 
Son." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY, 


59 


CHAPTER  IV. 

B\s  settlement  at  Chester — Marriage  to  Miss  Hardware — 
Death  of  Mrs.  Henry — Marriage  to  Miss  Warburton — 
Family  afflictions,  and  reflections  upon  them. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1687,  Mr.  Henry  accompanied 
a  deputation,  who  had  waited  upon  him  from  Ches- 
ter, to  his  future  dweUing-place  ;  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  commenced  a  career  of  sacred  usefulness  in 
that  city  by  preaching  the  usual  Thursday  lecture. 
His  text  was,  1  Cor.  2:2,  "I  determined  not  to 
know  any  thing  among  you,  save  Jesus  Christ,  and 
him  crucified."  Mr.  Tong  was  present,  a  witness 
of  the  joy  and  thankfulness  of  the  people.  "It 
may  be  truly  said,"  he  remarked,  "that  they  re- 
ceived their  new  minister  as  an  angel  of  God." 

Besides  much  agreeable  society  which  Mr.  Henry 
found  at  Chester,  his  settlement  was  rendered  still 
more  pleasing  to  himself,  by  the  marriage,  not  long 
afterwards,  of  three  of  his  sisters,  to  Mr.  Radford, 
Mr.  Hulton,  and  Dr.  Tylston,  all  excellent  and  pious 
men,  who  were  constant  attendants  on  his  ministry. 

But  that  which  rendered  Chester  still  more  agree- 
able to  him,  was  an  introduction  to  the  Hardware 
family  at  Moldsworth.  The  son,  Mr.  John  Hard- 
ware, had  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Hunt  of  Bo- 
reatton ;  and  he  had  an  only  sister,  dwelling  with 
her  parents,  of  whose  estimable  qualities  Mr.  Henry, 


60 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


when  in  London,  had  heard  enough  to  excite  his  cu- 
riosity and  attention :  his  character,  also,  had  been 
favorably  represented  at  Boreatton  in  her  hearing, 
and  she  knew  his  sisters.  So  far,  therefore,  they 
were  mutually  prepossessed  in  each  other's  favor; 
nor  had  their  personal  acquaintance  continued  long 
before  Mr.  Henry  disclosed  anxieties,  which,  being 
known,  were  not  ungraciously  received. 

Of  Miss  Hardware's  parents,  little  is  now  known  ; 
but  that  little  is  abundantly  honorable  to  their 
memory.  Her  father  was  a  serious  Christian,  very 
conscientious,  remarkable  for  temperance,  and  love 
to  the  duty  of  prayer,  and  an  old  puritan.  Her 
mother  was  eminent  for  wisdom  and  grace.  She 
walked  with  God,  and  looked  well  to  the  ways  of 
her  household. 

Mr.  Hardware,  and  Mr.  John  Hardware,  the  father 
and  brother,  readily  accepted  Mr.  Henry's  propo- 
sals ;  but  Mrs.  Hardware  felt  a  considerable  degree 
of  hesitation.  She  viewed  her  daughter  as  her  only 
one,  and  as  the  expectant  of  a  considerable  worldly 
portion ;  she  contemplated  her  other  recommenda- 
tions, both  personal  and  acquired  ;  several  gentle- 
men, too,  of  much  larger  estate  than  Mr.  Henry, 
had  made  advances  which  had  been  declined ;  on 
which  account  she  feared  the  reproach  of  negli- 
gence, or  of  having  made  a  sacrifice  to  the  interests 
of  a  party.  No  one  could  esteem  Mr.  Henry  more 
highly  than  she  did ;  she  valued  him  as  a  minister 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


61 


and  a  friend;  but  she  thought  it  a  duty  to  make 
better  provision  for  her  child.  She  knew  that  the 
ministry,  especially  of  the  non- conformists,  was  de- 
spised, and  liberty  very  precarious.  In  the  event 
of  persecution,  she  was  apprehensive  lest  her  daugh- 
ter, who  had  been  tenderly  brought  up,  and  every- 
where treated  with  respect  and  honor,  might  be 
deficient  in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  patience ;  and, 
if  she  were  not  to  stoop  to  the  cross,  a  great  addi- 
tion would  be  made  to  Mr.  Henry's  troubles,  at  a 
time  when  comfort  would  be  most  needtd. 

All  these  scruples,  were,  however,  at  length  hap- 
pily removed  ;  and  the  youthful  couple  were  mar- 
ried in  the  month  of  August,  1687.  The  marriage 
brought  to  remembrance  the  fact  that  a  hke  event 
had  once  been  desired  by  Mr.  Hardware  in  reference 
to  Mr.  Henry's  mother ;  and  the  circumstance  ren- 
dered the  recent  alhance  additionally  observable 
and  interesting, 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardware  now  removed  to  Chester, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  boarded  with  them.  A 
favorable  opportunity  Avas  thus  furnished  of  judging 
how  well  their  daughter  had  been  bestowed ;  and 
when  they  thus  additionally  beheld  Mr.  Henry's 
pious  and  pleasant  deportment,  his  excellent  tem- 
per, and  great  diligence  and  prudence,  they  were 
far  from  repenting  what  had  taken  place.  Mrs. 
Hardware,  indeed,  severely  reflected  upon  herself, 
for  having  opposed  the  marriage.    She  was  now 


m 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


sensible  of  the  advantages  she  and  her  husband  en- 
joyed, in  their  declining  years,  from  the  expositions, 
and  sermons,  and  prayers,  of  their  son-in  law.  She 
admired  the  goodness  of  God  in  overruling  her  owji 
inclinations,  and  choosing  for  her  daughter  and  her- 
self an  inheritance  in  ail  respects  so  superior  to 
what  she  would  have  selected  had  her  own  will 
prevailed.  She  expressed  her  conviction,  that  the 
objections  which  have  been  narrated  arose  from 
covetousness  and  pride,  although,  at  the  time,  she 
herself  was  not  aware  of  it.  So  industrious  is  the 
great  enemy  of  souls  with  good  people  continually, 
and  when  they  least  suspect  it. 

But  the  union,  propitious  as  in  all  respects  it  ap- 
peared, was  destined,  like  every  sublunary  joy,  to 
be  of  short  duration.  A  short  time  before  Mrs. 
Henry  was  permitted  to  know  the  felicity  of  mater- 
nal affection,  she  was  attacked  by  the  small-pox, 
which  proved  fatal.  She  died  in  the  hope  of  a 
blessed  immortality,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1689, 
aged  twenty-five  years. 

Mrs.  Hardware,  though  overwhelmed  with  sorrow, 
seemed  to  bear  the  affliction  with  more  composure 
than  Mr.  Henry.  An  eye-witness  told  Mr.  Tong, 
that  when  she  saw  her  beloved  child  a  corpse,  she 
was  enabled  to  check  her  grief,  and  almost  imme- 
diately, with  devout  and  patriarchal  submission,  to 
say,  "  It  is  the  Lord.  I  have  done ;  I  have  done. 
I  will  not  repine."    She  even  attempted  the  conso- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


tion  of  others,  and  upbraiding  herself  for  not  having 
more  freely  consented  to  the  nuptials,  added,  "  God, 
who  knew  how  long  my  child  had  to  Uve,  brought 
her  into  Mr.  Henry's  family  to  prepare  her  for 
heaven." 

Between  Mr.  Tong  and  the  bereaved  husband, 
the  interview  was  peculiarly  affecting.  As  soon  as 
tears  would  permit  utterance,  Mr.  Henry's  first 
words  were,  "  I  know  nothing  that  could  support 
me  under  such  a  loss  as  this,  but  the  good  hope 
that  she  is  gone  to  heaven,  and  that,  in  a  little  time, 
I  shall  follow  her  thither."  Mr.  Lawrence  preached 
at  her  funeral  from  Phil.  1  :  21,  "To  die  is  gain." 
It  was  no  small  alleviation  of  Mr.  Henry's  grief, 
that  the  life  of  his  "first-born"  was  spared.  A 
visit,  also,  from  his  excellent  father,  contributed 
much  to  his  comfort  in  this  time  of  need. 

Mr.  Henry  continued  to  reside  with  the  parents 
of  his  lamented  wife  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the 
depth  of  his  grief,  was  enabled  to  persevere  in  the 
entire  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties.  At  length, 
through  the  kind  interference  of  his  mother-in-law, 
his  loss  was  repaired.  Mrs.  Hardware  not  only  ad- 
,  vised  a  second  marriage,  but  recommended  one  of 
III  her  own  relatives,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Robert  War- 
burton,  Esq.,  of  Grange,  in  the  county  of  Chester. 
The  testimony  borne,  by  this  recommendation,  to 
Mr.  Henry's  conjugal  character,  is  highly  honorable ; 
and  it  is  due  to  the  lady  who  became  his  second 


64 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


wife,  to  remark,  tLat  its  value  derives  no  small  in- 
crease from  the  respectability  and  virtues  of  herself 
and  her  ancestors. 

On  this,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  the  predilec- 
tion for  the  "seed  of  the  righteous,"  which  Mr. 
Henry  had  been  taught  to  cherish,  was  strongly 
marked.  Miss  Warburton's  grandfather,  Peter  War- 
burton,  Esq.,  was  chief-justice  of  Chester,  of  honor- 
able descent,  and  distinguished  learning  and  piety  ; 
and  her  father,  Robert  Warburton,  Esq.,  who,  in 
consequence  of  the  death  of  two  elder  brothers  in 
infancy,  inherited  the  estate,  possessed  also  the 
like  precious  faith.  Much  attached  to  retirement, 
especially  in  his  latter  days,  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  in  reading  and  prayer.  The  Bible, 
and  Baxter's  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest,  lay  daily  be- 
fore him  on  his  parlor  table.  His  house  was  a 
sanctuary  to  the  silenced  ministers,  and  to  those 
who  adhered  to  them.  The  cause  of  non- conformity 
was  fully  approved  by  him,  and  he  never  deserted 
it.  Miss  Warburton's  mother  was  also  a  very  strict 
and  serious  Christian. 

The  marriage  was  solemnized  July  8,  1690,  at 
Grange.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Philip  Henry  were  present, 
rejoicing  in  their  acquaintance  with  so  worthy  a 
family,  and  their  relation  to  it.  After  the  lapse  of 
a  few  days,  they  accompanied  their  son  and  daugh- 
ter to  Chester ;  and  having  left  them  there  in  com- 
fort, returned  to  their  habitation  at  Broad  Oak, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


65 


blessing  God  who  had  thus  mercifully  filled  up  the 
former  breach,  and  restored  to  their  son  the  honor 
and  comforts  of  matrimony.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hard- 
ware, having  seen  Mr.  Henry  again  settled  accord- 
ing to  their  desire,  retired  from  Chester  to  their 
OAvn  estate  at  Bromborough  Court,  in  Wirral. 

Ere  one  year  had  elapsed,  the  happiness  of  Mr. 
Henry  in  his  second  marriage  was  interrupted  by  the 
sickness  of  an  infant  daughter,  born  April  12,  1691. 
Three  days  before  the  child's  death,  he  wrote, 
**  I  desire  to  leave  her  in  the  arms  of  Him  who 
gave  her  to  me.  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.  I 
have  said,  if  the  Lord  will  spare  her,  I  will  endeavor 
to  bring  her  up  for  him.  I  am  now  sitting  by  her, 
thinking  of  the  mischievous  nature  of  original  sin,  by 
which  death  reigns  over  poor  infants." 

The  following  passage,  penned  July  19,  1692, 
the  day  on  which  the  little  one  expired,  needs  no 
comment  to  make  it  intelligible.  Christian  parents, 
especially  if  they  have  been  bereaved,  will  fully  un- 
derstand it ;  and  every  reader  may  behold,  as  in  a 
glass,  the  resource  and  duty  of  the  believer,  when 
bowed  down  with  sorrow.  "  In  the  morning  I  had 
the  child  in  my  arms,  endeavoring  solemnly  to  give 
her  up  to  God,  and  to  bring  my  heart  to  his  will ; 
and  presently  there  seemed  some  reviving.  But 
while  I  was  writing  this,  I  was  suddenly  called  out 
of  my  study.  I  went  for  the  doctor,  and  brought 
him  with  me  ;  but,  as  soon  as  we  came  in,  the  sweet 

Matthew  Hearf.  ^ 


66 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


babe  quietly  departed,  between  the  mother's  arms 
and  mine,  Avithout  any  struggle,  for  nature  was 
spent  by  its  long  illness ;  and  now  my  house  is  a 
house  of  mourning." 

"  She  was  a  pretty,  forward  child,  and  very  ap- 
prehensive ;  she  began  to  go  and  talk,  and  observe 
things  very  prettily.  I  had  set  my  affection  much 
-upon  her.  I  am  afraid  too  much  ;  God  is  wise,  and 
righteous,  and  faithful.  Even  this,  also,  is  not  only 
consistent  with,  but  flowing  from  covenant  love. 
It  is  this  day  five  years  since  I  was  first  married. 
God  has  been  teaching  me  to  sing  of  mercy  and  of 
judgment.  Lord,  make  me  more  perfect  at  my  les- 
son, and  show  me  wherefore  thou  contendest  w^ith 
me.  Lord,  wean  me  from  this  world  by  it.  Blessed 
be  God  for  the  covenant  of  grace  with  me  and  mine  ; 
it  is  well  ordered  in  all  things,  and  sure.  0  that  I 
could  learn  now  to  comfort  others  with  the  same 
comforts  with  which,  I  trust,  I  am  comforted  of 
God  !  This  goes  near,  but,  0  Lord,  I  submit.  My 
dear  wife  is  much  distressed.  The  Lord  sustain 
her.  I  would  endeavor  to  comfort  her.  We  are 
now  preparing  for  a  decent  interment  of  my  poor 
babe.  Many  friends  come  to  see  us.  I  am  much 
refreshed  with  2  Kings,  4  :  26  :  '  Is  it  well  with  thee? 
Is  it  well  with  thy  husband  ?  Is  it  well  with  the  child  ? 
And  she  said,  It  is  well.'  When  I  part  with  so 
dear  a  child,  yet  I  have  no  reason  to  say  otherwise 
but  that  it  is  well  with  us,  and  well  with  the  child ; 


REV.  .MATTHEW  HENRY. 


67 


for  all  is  well  that  God  doeth.  He  performetli  the 
thing  that  he  appointed  for  me,  and  his  appoint- 
ment of  this  providence  is  in  pursuance  of  his  ap- 
pointment of  me  to  glory,  to  make  me  meet  for  it." 

One  extract  more  will  record  the  funeral.  "  I 
have  been  this  day  doing  a  work  I  never  did  before, 
burying  a  child ;  a  sad  day's  work ;  but  my  good 
friend  Mr.  Lawrence  preached  very  seasonably  and 
excellently,  at  the  lecture  in  the  afternoon,  from 
Psalm  39  :  9  :  *I  was  dumb;  I  opened  not  my 
mouth,  because  thou  didst  it.'  My  friends  testified 
their  kindness  by  their  presence.  There  is  now  a 
pretty  little  garment  laid  up  in  the  wardrobe  of  the 
grave,  to  be  worn  again  at  the  resurrection.  Blessed 
be  God  for  the  hope  of  this." 

In  due  time  it  pleased  the  Father  of  mercies  to 
heal  the  breach,  by  again  making  Mrs.  Henry  a  joy- 
ful mother ;  but  in  less  than  three  weeks  this  child 
also  died,  after  a  day's  sickness.  Mr.  Henry  re- 
ceived this  stroke,  sudden  and  afl'ecting  as  it  was, 
with  primitive  meekness  and  resignation.  In  refer- 
ence to  it,  he  wrote,  ''The  Lord  is  righteous;  he 
takes  and  gives,  and  gives  and  takes  again.  I  desire 
to  submit :  but,  0  Lord,  show  me  Avherefore  thou 
contendest  with  me." 

On  the  following  Sabbath,  he  endeavored  pub- 
licly to  improve  the  bereavement.  In  the  morning 
he  expounded  the  38th  chapter  of  Job,  where  God 
BO  largely  asserts  his  sovereignty,  and  challenges  all 


68 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


who  presume  to  arraign  the  wisdom  and  equity  of 
his  proceedings.  "Was  it  fit,"  Mr.  Henry  inquired, 
"  that  Job  should  quarrel  with  God  as  to  his  par- 
ticular providences  to  him,  when  he  was  so  unac- 
quainted with  the  methods  of  his  providence  in  gen- 
eral ?"  He  then  preached  from  Romans  5  :  14  : 
*' Nevertheless,  death  reigned  from  Adam  to  Moses, 
even  over  them  that  had  not  sinned  after  the  simili- 
tude of  Adam's  transgression,  who  is  the  figure  of 
him  that  was  to  come."  After  ably  illustrating  the 
dominion  of  death,  especially  in  reference  to  infants, 
who,  though  not  guilty  of  actual  sin,  are  the  sub- 
jects of  his  kingdom,  he  thus  addressed  such  as 
were,  or  had  been,  called  to  lose  their  little  ones : 
*'  Resign,  and  give  up  your  dying  children  to  God. 
They  cannot  do  it.  You  must  do  it  for  them. 
Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commit  my  child's  spirit. 
They  are  his  by  right ;  and  his  by  )^our  consent. 
You  should  restore  them  when  he  calls  for  them, 
and  do  it  freely.  I  know  it  is  hard,  but  it  must  be 
done.  Let  their  death  bring  your  sin  to  remem- 
brance. Did  you  not  sin  in  an  inordinate  desire  of 
children  ?  Perhaps,  in  discontent,  or  pov^erty,  you 
have  thought  them  too  many.  It  may  be  you  were 
overfond  of  them,  or  too  indulgent.  My  pride,  my 
passion,  my  covetousness,  these  slew  my  child. 
Learn  to  bear  it  patiently.  Do  not  murmur.  If 
I  am  bereaved  of  my  children,  said  the  patriarch, 
I  am  bereaved ;  not,  I  am  undone.    The  Shu- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


69 


namite  said,  It  is  well,  for  all  is  well  tliat  God 
doeth." 

In  the  review  which  Mr.  Henry  penned  on  the 
termination  of  this  year,  he  evidently  had  the  scenes 
through  which  he  had  passed  full  in  view.  Yet  it 
is  worthy  of  notice  how  entire  is  the  absence  of 
either  complaint  or  repining.  There  is,  indeed,  an 
expression  of  sorrow ;  but  it  arose  from  the  tender- 
ness of  a  contrite  spirit ;  it  stands  associated  with 
Liratitude  ;  and  was  influenced,  and  rendered  even 
-:icred,  by  the  aspirations  of  evangelical  hope.  "I 
am  now  come,'"  he  says,  "to  the  close  of  another 
vear,  which  has  begun  and  ended  with  a  Sabbath. 
I  have  received  many  mercies  the  year  that  is  past. 
I  have  been  brought  low,  and  helped.  My  dear 
wife  is  spared.  I  am  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living, 
though  many  have  been  taken  away.  But  how 
little  have  I  done  for  God.  What  will  become  of 
me,  I  know  not.  I  find  little  growth.  If  any  thing 
hath  at  any  time  afifected  me  this  year,  it  hath  been 
some  sweet  desires  of  the  glory  which  is  to  be  re- 
vealed. I  have  often  thought  of  it  as  that  which 
Avould  help  me  in  my  present  duty." 


70 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  V. 

Death  of  Mr.  Warburton — Death  of  Philip  Henry — Reflec- 
tions on  the  event — Further  bereavements,  and  Letter  oc- 
casioned by  them — Death  of  his  daughter  Ann — Devout 
exercises  on  his  Birthday  and  the  close  of  the  year — At- 
tention to  the  orphan  children  of  Mrs.  Radford. 

For  a  few  years,  the  candle  of  the  Lord  shone 
upon  Mr.  Henry  almost  without  interruption,  and, 
comparatively,  he  enjoyed  rest.  But  even  in  sea- 
sons of  rejoicing,  he  had  learned  to  remember  the 
days  of  darkness."  And  there  can  be  no  question 
that  the  sanctified  mercies,  which,  from  his  papers,  he 
seems  to  have  experienced,  had  a  salutary  influence 
upon  the  trials  through  which  he  was  soon  to  pass. 
Sometimes  he  expatiated  upon  the  goodness  of  God 
in  affording  to  his  people  extraordinary  consolations, 
that  they  might  be  the  better  fitted  to  endure  afflic- 
tion when  it  might  be  sent;  observing  that  ''those 
who  were  to  be  witnesses  of  Christ's  agony,  were 
the  witnesses  of  his  transfiguration." 

The  return  of  the  chastening  hand  of  God  upon 
him,  may  be  assigned  to  April,  1696.  On  the  14th 
of  that  month,  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Warburton, 
was  taken,  in  a  good  old  age,  to  his  final  home. 
There  was  every  thing  in  the  event  to  mitigate 
grief;  surprise  had  been  prevented  by  long  expec- 
tation, and  by  the  pressure  of  complicated  infirmi- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


71 


ties ;  and  death,  beyond  all  doubt,  was  "  gain  "  to 
him.  Still,  notwithstanding  every  alleviation,  the 
stroke  was  deeply  felt. 

But  this  was  only  preparatory  to  another  afflic- 
tive dispensation.  His  own  father,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  ordinary  health,  and  active  usefulness,  and  far 
from  being  advanced  in  years,  was  shortly  after- 
wards suddenly  arrested  by  sickness,  and,  in  a  few 
hours,  translated  to  heaven.  The  day  was,  mdeed, 
a  day  of  grief,  and  of  the  deepest  sorrow.  No  rep- 
resentation can  equal  his  OAvn  account  of  the  melan- 
choly event. 

"June  23,  1696.  This  afternoon,  about  three 
o'clock,  my  father's  servant  came  for  the  doctor, 
with  the  tidings  that  my  dear  father  was  taken  sud- 
denly ill.  I  had  then  some  of  my  friends  about  me, 
and  they  were  cheerful  with  me,  but  this  struck  a 
damp  upon  all.  I  had  first  thought  not  to  have 
gone  till  the  next  day,  it  being  somewhat  late,  and 
very  wet ;  and  had  written  half  a  letter  to  my  dear 
mother,  but  I  could  not  help  going ;  and  I  am  glad 

1  did  go,  for  I  have  often  thought  of  that,  2  Kings, 

2  :  10,  *If  thou  see  me  when  I  am  taken  up  from 
thee,'  etc.  The  doctor  and  I  came  to  Broad  Oak 
about  eight  o'clock,  and  found  him  in  great  extrem- 
ity of  pain  :  nature,  through  his  great  and  unwearied 
labors,  unable  to  bear  up,  and  sinking  under  the 
load.  As  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  said,  *  0  son,  you 
are  welcome  to  a  dying  father ;  I  am  now  ready  to 


72 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand. 
The  Lord  bless  you,  and  grant  that  you  may  do 
worthily  in  your  generation,  and  be  more  service- 
able to  the  church  of  God  than  I  have  been.'  Such 
was  his  great  humihty  to  the  last.  And  when  I 
replied,  '  0,  sir,  pray  for  me  that  I  may  but  tread 
in  your  steps,'  he  answered,  *  Yea,  follow  peace  and 
holiness,  and  let  them  say  what  they  will.'  More 
he  would  have  said,  to  bear  his  dying  testimony  to 
the  way  in  which  he  had  walked,  but  nature  was 
spent,  and  he  had  not  strength  to  express  it.  A 
little  after  midnight,  my  mother  holding  his  hands 
as  he  sat  in  bed,  and  I  holding  the  pillow  to  his 
back,  he  very  quietly,  and  without  any  struggling, 
groan,  or  rattling,  breathed  out  his  dear  soul  into 
the  hands  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  whom  he  had 
faithfully  served. 

"  And  now,  what  is  this  that  God  hath  done  unto 
us  ?  The  thing  itself,  and  the  suddenness  of  it,  are 
very  affecting ;  but  the  wormwood  and  the  gall  in 
it  is,  that  it  looks  like  a  token  of  God's  displeasure 
to  us  who  survive.  The  Lord  calls  my  sins  to  re- 
membrance this  day,  that  I  have  not  profited  by 
him  while  he  was  with  us  as  I  should  have  done. 
Our  family  worship  this  morning  was  very  melan- 
choly; the  place  was  Allon-hachuth,  the  oak  of 
weeping ;  the  little  children  were  greatly  affected, 
and  among  the  neighbors  was  heard  nothing  but 
lamentation  and  mourning;  my  dear  mother  cast 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


73 


down,  but  not  in  despair.  I,  for  my  part,  am  full 
of  confusion,  and  like  a  man  astonished." 

On  Friday  following,  the  corpse  being  yet  un- 
buried,  the  time  appointed  for  keeping  a  public  fast 
arrived.  Prevented  by  the  solemn  occurrence  from 
observing  it  at  Chester,  Mr.  Henry  improved  it  at 
Broad  Oak.  His  own  memorandum  is  as  uncom- 
mon as  it  is  instructive,  and  demonstrates  not  only 
an  astonishing  degree  of  self-command,  but  also  a 
devotedness  to  the  glory  of  God  which  is  truly  ad- 
mirable. 

"  June  26,  1696.  This  day  is  appointed  a  public 
fast ;  my  place  is  now  vacant ;  it  did  not  use  to  be 
so,  but  God  will  have  it  so  now.  I  had  thought 
not  to  have  done  any  thing  at  Broad  Oak,  and  had 
given  notice  accordingly ;  but  I  see  the  people  come 
in,  and  are  greatly  aflfected  that  their  minister  should 
be  taken  away  from  them,  just  before  a  fast  which 
he  had  given  notice  of  on  the  Lord's  day,  both 
morning  and  evening,  and  had  earnestly  pressed 
them  to  the  due  observation  of  it.  I  remember  I 
had  often  heard  my  father  say,  *  weeping  must  not 
hinder  sowing I  therefore  thought  it  my  duty  to 
spend  two  or  three  hours  in  the  meeting-place,  put- 
ting the  people  in  mind  that  we  had  kept  too  many 
fasts  with  dry  eyes,  under  melting  ordinances,  but 
God  had  caused  us  to  keep  this  fast  with  wet  eyes, 
under  a  melting  providence.  I  preached  from  2 
Kings,  13  :  20  :  'Elisha  died,  and  the  bands  of  the 


74 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Moabites  invaded  the  land.'  The  removal  of  public 
useful  instruments  is  a  sad  presage  of  public  dread- 
ful judgments." 

Mr.  Henry's  diary  furnishes  a  continuation  of  the 
affecting  narrative. 

"June  27.  The  day  of  my  father's  funeral; 
melancholy  work.  O  that  by  this  providence  I 
might  contract  an  habitual  gravity,  seriousness,  and 
thoughtfulness  of  death  and  eternity.  Our  friends 
most  affectionately  sympathize  with  us,  and  do  him 
honor  at  his  death.  How  has  this  providence  made 
Broad  Oak,  like  a  wilderness,  desolate  and  solitary ; 
and  the  poor  people,  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd." 

"July  1.  I  returned  late  to  Chester,  and  found 
the  children  well.  The  next  day  I  studied,  and 
preached  the  lecture  from  2  Peter,  1 :  13,  14  :  '  Yea, 
I  think  it  meet,  as  long  as  I  am  in  this  tabernacle, 
to  stir  you  up,  by  putting  you  in  remembrance  ; 
knowing  that  shortly  I  must  put  off  this  my  taber- 
nacle, even  as  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  showed 
me.'  0  that  it  might  be  preached  to  my  own 
heart,  and  written  there ;  that  in  consideration  of 
my  being  to  depart  hence  shortly,  I  may  double  my 
diligence. 

"  And  now  I  have  had  time  to  reflect  on  this  sad 
providence.    What  shall  I  say  to  these  things  ? 

''1.  I  bless  God  that  ever  I  had  such  a  father, 
whose  temper  was  so  very  happy,  and  his  gifts  and 
graces  so  very  bright ;  one  that  recommended  relig- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


75 


ion,  and  the  power  of  godliness,  by  a  cheerful  and 
endearing  conversation  ;  that  had  himself,  and  taught 
others,  the  art  of  obliging.  I  bless  God  that  I  had 
him  so  loner,  that  he  was  not  removed  from  me  when 
I  was  a  child ;  that  I  have  not  been  left  to  mj^self, 
to  be  a  grief  and  heaviness  to  him  ;  nothing  made 
me  differ  from  the  worst,  but  the  free  grace  of  God ; 
to  that  grace  be  the  glory  of  all  the  benefit  that  my 
father  was  to  me,  and  the  comfort  I  was  to  him. 

"2.  I  have  a  great  deal  of  reason  to  be  humbled, 
and  ashamed,  that  I  have  profited  and  improved  no 
more  by  my  relation  to  so  good  a  man  ;  that  I  have 
not  better  transcribed  that  fair  copy  of  humility, 
meekness,  candor,  and  zealous  piety.  0  that  the 
remembrance  of  him  may  have  a  greater  influence 
upon  me  than  the  personal  converse  had  ! 

"  3.  Death  comes  nearer  and  nearer  to  me.  '  Lord, 
make  me  to  know  mine  end,  and  teach  me  to  num- 
ber my  days.'  In  January  last,  death  came  into  our 
classis,  and  removed  good  Mr.  Kinaston  of  Knuts- 
ford  ;  in  February,  death  came  into  the  Friary,"  that 
part  of  the  city  where  Mr.  Henry  resided,  "  and 
took  away  Mrs.  Cook ;  in  March,  death  came  into 
my  house,  and  carried  away  my  cousin  Aldersey ; 
in  April,  it  came  into  our  family,  in  the  death  of  my 
father  Warburton ;  at  the  end  of  May,  I  said  with 
thankfulness,  Here  is  a  month  past  in  which  I  have 
not  buried  one  friend ;  but  June  has  brought  it 
nearest  of  all,  and  speaks  very  loud  to  me  to  be 


76 


3IEM0IR  OF  THE 


ready  to  go  after.  The  Lord  prepare  me  for  a  dying 
hour,  that  will  come  certainly,  and  may  come  sud- 
denly ;  that  when  it  comes  I  may  have  nothing  to 
do  hut  to  die. 

"  4.  The  great  honor  and  respect  paid  to  his 
memory,  and  the  good  name  he  has  left  behind 
him,  should  encourage  me  to  faithfulness  and  use- 
fulness. The  Scripture  is  fulfilled  :  *  Them  that  honor 
me,  I  will  honor,'  and  '  Before  honor  is  humility.' 

**  5.  This  should  bring  me  nearer  to  God,  and 
make  me  live  more  upon  him,  who  is  the  fountain 
of  living  waters.  My  dear  father  was  a  counsellor 
to  me,  but  Christ  is  the  wonderful  counsellor.  He 
was  an  intercessor  for  me,  but  Christ  is  an  interces- 
sor that  lives  for  ever,  and  is,  therefore,  able  to  save 
to  the  uttermost.  Xor  are  the  prayers  that  he  has 
put  up  for  me  and  mine  lost,  but  I  trust  we  shall 
be  reaping  the  fruit  of  them  now  he  is  gone.  I 
have  had  much  comfort  in  hearing  God  speak  to 
me  by  this  Scripture :  *  Wilt  thou  not  from  this  time 
cry  unto  me,  My  Father,  thou  art  the  guide  of  my 
youth  ?'  Jer.  3  :  4.  My  dear  father  wrote  to  me 
lately  upon  the  death  of  my  father  Warburton, 
*  Your  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  One  gone,  and 
the  other  going ;  but  you  have  a  good  Father  in 
heaven,  that  lives  for  ever.'  Abba,  Father,  the 
Lord  teach  me  to  cry  so,  and  to  come  into  the 
holiest  as  to  my  Father's  house  ;  and  let  these  things 
be  written  upon  my  heart.    Amen,  Amen." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


77 


On  the  next  sacramental  occasion  he  again  at- 
tempted, with  great  seriousness  and  dehberation,  to 
improve  the  event ;  being  desirous,  as  he  expressed 
it,  to  bring  the  ordinance  home  to  the  providence, 
and  to  have  a  particular  reference  to  it  in  the  cove- 
nant which  he  w^as  to  renew  with  God  at  his  table. 
His  views  may  be  gathered  from  his  own  words  : 

"1.  I  would,  in  this  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, very  particularly  eye  God  as  a  father,  as  my 
Father.  My  father  who  is  gone,  was  to  me  a  faith- 
ful reprover,  teacher,  and  counsellor.  I  desire, 
therefore,  at  this  time,  more  expressly  than  ever,  to 
take  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  my  reprover,  teacher, 
and  counsellor.  I  was  often  refreshed  in  visitinof 
my  father,  and  conversing  with  him ;  I  would,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  have  more  fellowship  with  the 
Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  whom  I 
may  be  free  with. 

"2.  There  are  some  things  I  would  more  partic- 
ularly engage  myself  to,  upon  this  providence  ;  the 
Lord  direct,  confirm,  and  ratify  good  resolutions. 
I  will  now  labor  and  endeavor,  in  the  strencrth  of 
the  grace  of  Christ,  and  the  Lord  give  me  a  suffi- 
ciency of  his  grace, 

"■(1.)  To  be  more  grave  and  serious;  partly  as 
the  fruit  of  this  sad  and  solemn  providence,  which 
should  not  only  affect  me  for  the  present,  but  alter 
me  for  the  future,  and  make  me  habitually  more 
serious ;  partly  because,  my  father  being  now  re- 


78 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


moved,  I  have  almost  lost  the  epithet  of  a  young 
man,  which  uses  to  pass  for  some  excuse.  It  is 
time  to  lay  aside  vanity. 

"(2.)  To  be  more  meek  and  humble,  courteous 
and  candid ;  because  these  were  the  graces  that  my 
dear  father  was  eminent  for,  and  God  owned  him 
in  them,  and  men  honored  him  for  them.  I  am 
sensible  of  too  much  hastiness  of  spirit.  I  would 
learn  to  be  of  a  cool,  mild  spirit. 

"  (3.)  To  be  more  diligent  and  industrious  in  im- 
proving my  time,  for  I  see  it  is  hastening  off  apace  ; 
and  I  desire  to  have  it  filled  up,  because  I  see  I 
must  shortly  put  off  this  my  tabernacle,  and  there 
is  no  working  in  the  grave." 

The  work  of  the  day  being  over,  he  goes  on  to 
remark,  "1  have  been  full  of  distractions,  which 
have  much  discouraged  me ;  yet  I  had  some  com- 
munion with  God  in  this  day's  work,  beyond  what 
I  expected,  though  not  what  I  earnestly  desired. 
I  have  solemnly  renewed  my  covenants  with  the 
Lord  at  his  table,  and  particularly  those  above- 
written.  The  Lord  give  me  his  grace,  that  having 
made  these  vows,  I  may  make  them  good." 

Honorable  as  the  preceding  extracts  unquestion- 
ably are  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  most  illus- 
trious men  whose  name  has  been  perpetuated  in  the 
churches,  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  they  do  not 
shed  equal  lustre  upon  the  bereaved  and  heavenly- 
minded  writer.  Where  shall  we  find  the  indications 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


79 


of  a  deeper  or  more  chastened  sorrow,  or  the  tokens 
of  more  lowly  resignation,  or  the  aspirations  of  more 
sacred  desires,  or  the  evidences  of  more  pure  and 
elevated  piety  ? 

The  following  memoranda,  written  at  subsequent 
periods,  and  more  remote  from  the  bitter  scene, 
discover  a  similar  spirit,  and  breathe  a  fragrance 
no  less  celestial. 

"October  18,  1C96.  This  day  completes  the 
thirty-fourth  year  of  my  age.  I  have  endeavored 
this  morning  to  get  my  heart  affected  with  the  sin 
in  which  I  was  born,  and  with  the  sins  of  my  life 
hitherto ;  and  with  the  mercy  of  my  birth,  and  the 
mercies  of  my  life  hitherto.  The  Lord  enable  me 
to  live  a  life  of  repentance,  and  a  life  of  thankful- 
ness." 

"December  31,  1696.  This  year  is  at  an  end. 
On  the  first  day  of  it,  I  preached  from  Proverbs 
27  :  1,  'Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow;  for  thou 
knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth/  My 
fathers,  where  are  they  ?  And  where  am  I  ?  Hast- 
ing after  them.  I  have  lost  much  time  this  year ; 
but  if,  through  grace,  I  have  got  any  good,  it  is  a 
greater  indifferency  to  the  things  of  this  world. 
The  Lord  increase  it." 

During  the  following  year,  Mr.  Henry  was  called 
to  experience  further  bereavements.  In  the  month 
of  August  three  of  his  sisters  were  successively 
seized  with  alarming  illness.    One  of  them,  Mrs; 


80 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Tj^lston,  recovered ;  but  tlie  other  two,  Mrs.  Rad- 
ford and  Mrs.  Hulton,  both  exemplary  Christians, 
entered  into  rest.  On  this  occasion  he  wrote,  "  I 
find  it  hard  to  submit.  Let  the  grace  of  Christ  be 
sufficient  for  me.  I  have  said  it,  and  I  do  not  un- 
say it — Lord,  thy  will  be  done." 

On  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hulton,  which  occurred 
about  three  weeks  later  than  Mrs.  Radford's,  he  ad- 
dressed to  another  sister  the  following  admirable 
letter.  The  advice  which  it  contains  to  Christian 
mourners  can  never  be  out  of  season ;  and  the  train 
of  thought  is  as  felicitous  as  the  testimony  to  the 
deceased  is  honorable  and  exciting. 

"  For  Mrs.  Savage,  at  Wrenbury  Wood. 

"  Chester,  September  8,  1697. 

My  dear  Sister — I  find  it  very  easy  to  say  a 
great  deal  to  aggravate  our  loss ;  and  losers  think 
they  may  have  leave  to  speak.  I  can  say  that  I 
have  lost,  not  only  a  sister,  but  a  true  friend ;  one 
of  my  *  helpers  in  Christ  Jesus ;'  and  one  that  was 
to  me  *  as  my  own  soul.'  To  lose  such  an  one,  in 
the  midst  of  her  days,  at  such  a  time  as  this,  when 
so  many  decline,  what  shall  I  say  to  it  ?  I  endeavor 
to  silence  myself  with  this,  that  the  Lord  hath  done 
it,  who  gives  not  account  of  any  of  his  matters,  and 
in  whose  hands  we  and  all  our  comforts  are,  *  as  the 
clay  in  the  hand  of  the  potter.' 

"  But  there  is  something  more  for  us  to  satisfy 
ourselves  with.    The  cloud  has  a  bright  side  as  well 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


81 


a  dark  one.  If  we  look  upon  this  providence  as 
sent  to  call  a  dear  friend  home  to  heaven,  and  to 
help  us  onward  in  our  way  thither,  the  thing  hath 
quite  another  aspect.  Are  we  not  born  from  heav- 
en, and  bound  to  heaven  ?  Is  not  that  our  home, 
our  country  ?  And  are  our  relations  any  the  less 
ours  for  being  removed  thither?  And  how  long 
do  we  expect  to  stay  behind  ?  We  knew  not  the 
other  day  that  it  was  so  little  a  while  and  we 
should  not  see  her ;  and  alas,  now  it  is  but  a  little 
while,  and  we  shall  see  her,  because  Ave  '  go  to  the 
Father.' 

"  There  is  matter  for  praise  and  thanksgiving, 
even  in  this  sad  provideiKje  :  that  we  had  such  a 
relation — that  we  had  her  so  long,  and  had  so 
much  comfort  in  her — that  she  shone  so  illustriously 
in  gifts  and  graces — that  she  was  enabled  to  finish 
well,  and  had,  as  she  said,  '  hope  in  her  death 
she  blessed  God  for  the  Scriptures,  which  were  her 
cordial,  and  did  not  seem  to  be  under  any  cloud  as 
to  her  comforts — that  she  hath  left  a  good  name 
behind  her :  she  dies  as  much  lamented,  as,  I  think, 
any  woman  in  Chester  since  I  knew  it;  for  'hei' 
hands  and  lips  fed  many ' — that  she  hath  left  chil- 
dren behind  her,  who  we  hope  may  live  to  glorify 
God  in  this  world: — and  that  we  do  not  'sorrow  as 
those  who  have  no  hope.'  I  shall  want  her  con- 
verse, and  you  her  correspondence  ;  but  let  us  both 
converse  and  correspond  the  more  with  Jesus  Christ; 

Matthew  Henry.  ^ 


82 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


and  that  will  help  us  to  make  up  the  want ;  nay, 
that  will  be  'far  better.' 

"  Good  Mr.  Lawrence  hath  helped  us  well  to  im- 
prove the  providence.  The  Lord  help  us  with  grace 
sufficient.  A  letter  from  our  Friend  in  heaven  is 
better  than  one  from  the  best  friend  we  have  on  earth. 
The  Lord  perfect  what  concerns  you.  Let  us  learn 
to  sing  both  of  mercy  and  judgment;  and  to  sing 
unto  God  of  both,  till  we  come  to  sing  of  mercy 
only  in  the  world  of  everlasting  mercy.  Our  dear 
love  to  you  and  the  children.    I  rest, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

"M.  H." 

On  the  arrival  of  another  birthday  anniversary, 
Mr.  Henry  marked  it  by  reflections  as  appropriate 
and  sensible  as  those  which  have  already  been  no-  • 
ticed.    These  reflections,  though  brief,  are  \ery  com- 
prehensive. 

"October  18,  1697.  Through  the  good  hand  of 
my  God  upon  me,  I  have  finished  my  thirty-fifth 
year—one- half  of  the  age  of  man  :  as  if  now  in  the 
zenith,  it  is  high  noon  with  me ;  but  my  sun  may 
*go  down  at  noon.'  I  was  aff'ected  this  morning, 
when  alone,  in  thinking  ivkat  I  was  born !  A  ra- 
tional creature,  a  helpless  creature,  and  a  sinful 
creature.  Where  I  was  born  !  In  the  church  of 
God  ;  in  a  land  of  light ;  in  a  house  of  prayer. 
What  I  was  born  for  !  To  glorify  God  my  Maker, 
and  prepare  to  get  to  heaven." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


83 


The  commencement  of  the  next  year  was  marked 
with  equal  seriousness. 

"January  1,  1698.  My  family  is  now  in  peace 
and  health,  through  the  goodness  of  God ;  but  I 
know  not  what  a  day,  much  less  a  year,  may  bring 
forth.  I  have  begged  to  be  ready  for  the  trials  and 
afflictions  of  the  year,  and  for  death,  if  it  comes  ; 
thinking  this  day  what  a  mercy  it  is  to  be  born  in  a 
land  where  God  is  known,  and  not  where  he  is  an 
unknown  God.  I  begin  the  year  with  a  solemn,  re- 
newed dedication  of  myself,  my  whole  self,  to  God 
in  Christ,  as  my  God,  and  Father,  and  portion.  Let 
this  be  the  axis  and  centre  of  every  year's  revolu- 
tion.   Amen.    0  Lord,  so  be  it." 

During  this  year  Mr.  Henry  visited  London  for 
the  first  time  since  his  settlement  in  Chester.  The 
same  tender  regard  for  the  glory  of  his  Master, 
which  has  been  so  uniformly  conspicuous,  marked 
both  the  commencement  and  the  prosecution  of  his 
journey.  Before  his  departure,  his  friends  were  con- 
vened to  implore  a  blessing  on  the  undertaking  ; 
and  his  praise  abounded,  that  he  was  not  "  forced 
from  home,  nor  going  to  follow  a  roving  fancy,  nor 
to  seek  his  fortune."  During  his  stay  in  the  me- 
tropolis, he  preached  almost  daily,  with  great  ac- 
ceptance and  favor.  When  he  returned  home,  he 
carried  with  him  the  praises  and  admiration  of  his 
fellow- men  and  of  his  fellow- Christians.  But  nei- 
ther the  attentions  which  he  received,  nor  the  pop- 


84 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


ularity  with  which  his  services  were  marked,  pro- 
duced any  imdue  exaltation.  On  the  contrary,  they 
seem  to  have  increased  his  sense  of  unmerited  good- 
ness, and  to  have  filled  him  with  penitence  and  as- 
tonishment. Under  the  date  of  October  18,  1698, 
he  writes,  "  I  have  now  weathered  about  thirty-six 
years.  So  long  have  I  cumbered  the  ground,  and 
yet  I  am  spared  ;  others,  much  more  useful,  have 
never  attained  this  age.  I  admire  the  patience  of 
God,  and  I  wonder  at  my  own  folly,  that  being  up- 
on the  brink  of  an  awful,  eternal  state,  I  am  so  little 
affected  with  it.  The  Lord  teach  me  with  a  strong 
hand." 

Soon  afterwards  another  afflictive  event  occurred, 
which  made  an  impression  upon  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  unusually  deep,  and  which,  on  account  of 
the  ample  scope  which  it  furnished  and  secured  for 
the  renewed  exercise  of  those  principles  which  have 
already  been  so  prommently  exhibited,  deserves  more 
than  mere  registration.  Their  little  daughter  Ann, 
being  attacked  by  the  measles,  sunk  almost  imme- 
diately into  the  arms  of  death.  The  surprise  of  her 
agitated  parents  in  this  bereavement  was  the  greater, 
because,  as  Mr.  Henry  observed,  though  many  chil- 
dren in  Chester  had  the  disease  at  the  same  time, 
yet  he  knew  of  none  that  died  by  it  but  his  own 
child.  "  God  in  mere}',"  was  the  beautiful  and  ap- 
propriate supplication  of  Mrs.  Savage,  "  support 
and  comfort  the  tender  mother,  that  she  may  be  a 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


85 


pattern  of  patience  and  quiet  submission  ;  foras- 
much as  it  is  fit  the  Master  of  the  garden  should 
pluck  off  which  flower  he  pleases." 

Nor  were  the  sentiments  of  Mr.  Henry  less  beau- 
tiful, less  appropriate,  or  less  instructive.  "  My  de- 
sire," he  said,  "is  to  be  sensible  of  the  affliction, 
and  yet  patient  under  it.  It  is  a  rod,  a  smarting 
rod.  God  calls  my  sin  to  remembrance ;  the  cold- 
ness of  my  love  to  himself ;  my  abuse  of  spiritual 
comforts.  It  is  a  rod  in  the  hand  of  my  Father. 
I  desire  in  it  to  see  a  father's  authority,  who  may 
do  what  he  will,  and  a  father's  love,  who  will  do 
what  is  best.  We  resigned  the  soul  of  the  child  to 
Him  who  gave  it ;  and,  if  the  little  ones  have  their 
angels,  doubted  not  of  their  ministration  in  death, 
we  have  hope,  through  grace,  that  it  is  well  with 
the  child.  Little  children  in  heaven  we  look  upon 
as  the  Via  Lactea,  the  individuals  scarce  discernable, 
but  altogether  beautifying  the  heavens.  We  spent 
the  day  in  sorrow  for  our  affliction,  our  friends  sym- 
pathizing with  us ;  one  day  committing  the  immortal 
soul  to  God ;  this  day  committing  the  dust  to  the 
dust  of  the  earth,  as  it  was.  I  am  '  in  deaths  oft.* 
Lord,  teach  me  how  to  'die  daily.'  I  endeavored, 
when  the  child  was  put  into  the  grave,  to  act  faith 
upon  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection,  believing  in 
him  who  quickeneth  the  dead." 

Having  completed  his  thirty-seventh  year,  Mr. 
Henry  inserted  the  following  remarks  in  his  diary : 


86 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


"  October  18, 1699.  I  desire  to  be  affected  with 
God's  goodness  to  me  in  my  birth.  I  bless  God 
that  I  have  no  cause  to  curse  the  day  wherein  I  was 
bom,  but  having  obtained  help  of  God,  I  continue 
to  this  day.  I  desire  to  be  thankful  to  God,  that  he 
has  not  left  me  to  live  an  idle  life ;  but  I  have  rea- 
son to  lament  my  sins,  and  my  sinful  thoughts,  by 
which  I  have  lost  much  time.  I  have  reason  to  ac- 
knowledge God's  goodness  to  me,  in  giving  me  so 
great  a  degree  of  bodily  health  and  strength  above 
many  of  my  brethren.  I  find  not  any  sensible  de- 
cay or  prejudice  by  my  work  ;  but  I  know  that  *  my 
soul  is  continually  in  my  hand,'  and  I  am  not  sure 
to  live  another  year." 

At  the  close  of  the  year  he  also  writes  : 

"December  31,  1699.  I  asked  by  earnest  and 
importunate  supplication, 

"  1.  For  mercy  and  grace  for  my  own  soul ;  that 
while  I  preach  to  others,  I  myself  may  not  be  cast 
away ;  that  my  con-uptions  may  be  mortified,  and 
the  interest  of  Christ  preserved  and  advanced  with- 
in me.  I  would  wrestle  with  God  for  his  Spirit  to 
cleanse  and  sanctify  me. 

"  2.  For  strength  and  success  in  my  ministerial 
work,  direction  in  the  choice  of  subjects,  and  the 
guidance  and  assistance  of  the  Spirit  in  studying 
sermons,  to  secure  me  from  error  and  mistake,  to 
lead  me  into  all  truth,  and  to  furnish  me  with  ac- 
ceptable words ;  to  be  in  me  a  Spirit  of  supplica- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


87 


tion.  And  that  the  blessing  of  God  may  accompany 
all  my  endeavors.  0  that  I  may  be  instrumental 
to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and  to  build  them  up ;  that 
I  may  not  labor  in  vain,  but  that  God  would  give 
the  increase.  It  is  still  my  heart's  desire  to  be  more 
ready  and  more  mighty  in  the  Scriptures. 

"  3.  For  the  staying  of  God's  controversies  with 
me  and  my  family ;  that  God  would  make  no  fur- 
ther breaches.  But  this  with  submission  to  his 
blessed  will. 

"  4.  For  the  sanctifying  of  the  breaches  which 
have  been  made,  that  the  impression  of  the  provi- 
dences of  the  year  may  not  wear  off  or  be  forgot- 
ten ;  but  that  I  may  see  '  my  soul  to  be  in  my  hand 
continually.' 

5.  For  the  beheaded  families,  the  widows  and 
fatherless,"  etc. 

Mr.  Henry  did  not,  however,  satisfy  himself  with 
praying  for  the  fatherless.  He  espoused  the  cause 
of  his  sister  Radford's  orphan  children,  three  daugh- 
ters and  one  son,  who  were  left  quite  unprovided 
for.  The  situation  in  which  he  was  thus  placed 
was  new  to  him,  and  involved  duties  which  inter- 
fered in  a  measure  with  his  ministerial  work ;  but  it 
gave  occasion  for  a  further  display  of  his  varied  and 
eminent  virtues.  Nor  should  it  be  omitted,  that 
Mis.  Henry  heartily  concurred  in  his  kind  designs, 
and  aided  their  advancement ;  and,  amidst  numerous 
and  increasing  avocations,  treated  the  children  with 


88. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


a  kindness  and  assiduity  truly  maternal.  Some  of 
them  remained  in  the  family  for  several  years :  they 
all  profited  by  instruction  ;  and  acknowledged  with 
gratitude  the  tender  and  affectionate  attention  of 
both  their  uncle  and  aunt.  ''He  that  hath  pity 
upon  the  poor,  lendeth  unto  the  Lord ;  and  that 
which  he  hath  given,  will  he  pay  him  again."  As 
Christian  parents  know  not  what  their  own  children 
may  need,  when  they  themselves  are  taken  from 
them,  so  according  to  their  ability  should  they  com- 
miserate the  orphan  children  of  others;  and  Jeho- 
vah's promise  herein  secures,  in  one  way  or  another, 
a  rich  reward. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Devout  commencement  of  the  year — Self-dedication — Birth- 
day memorials — Reflections  and  resolutions  at  the  close  and 
commencement  of  the  year. 

There  is  often  a  great  degree  of  uniformity  in  the 
life  of  a  man  of  Mr.  Henry's  pursuits  and  character. 
Whilst  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea,  which 
cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt,  the 
godly  man,  the  pious,  devoted  pastor,  frequently 
pursues  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  with  but  few 
incidents  occurring  to  interest  the  spectator  of  his 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


89 


course.  This  was  especially  the  case  with  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir  at  the  commencement,  and  for 
a  few  years  following  the  commencement  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  The  present  chapter  will  there- 
fore be  devoted  to  a  few  continuous  extracts  from 
his  diary,  which  tend  eminently  to  show  that  if 
there  were  few  striking  external  circumstances  oc- 
curring during  this  period,  the  mind  and  heart  of 
the  man  of  God  were  ripening  for  further  usefulness 
on  earth  and  higher  glory  in  heaven. 

"  This  new-year's  day,"  probably  January  1,  1700, 
**  I  have  solemnly  renewed  the  resignation  and  sur- 
render of  my  whole  self  to  God,  as  my  God,  de- 
liberately, and  upon  good  considerations.  I  have 
renounced  the  world  and  the  flesh,  as  knowing  they 
cannot  make  me  happy ;  and  have  devoted  my  whole 
self  to  the  blessed  Spirit,  to  be  enlightened,  and 
sanctified,  and  so  recommended  to  the  Son,  as  qual- 
ified for  an  interest  in  his  mediation,  according  to 
the  tenor  of  the  Gospel.  I  likewise  devote  myself, 
through  the  Spirit,  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  my 
Advocate  with  the  Father,  relying  upon  Christ's 
righteousness  alone  ;  for,  without  him,  I  am  less 
than  nothing,  worse  than  nothing.  I  likewise  de- 
vote myself,  through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  God 
the  Father,  as  my  chief  good  and  highest  end ;  as 
the  author  of  my  being,  to  whom  I  am  obliged  in 
duty  ;  and  the  felicity  of  my  being,  to  whom  I  am 
obhged  in  interest.    0  Lord,  truly  I  am  thy  servant ; 


90 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


may  I  ever  be  free  in  thy  service,  and  never  desire 
to  be  free  from  it.  Nail  my  ear  to  thy  door-posts, 
and  let  me  serve  thee  for  ever." 

"  1701,  January  1.  I  solemnly  renew  the  dedi- 
cation of  myself  unto  God,  thankfully  acknowledg- 
ing and  admiring  his  patience  and  forbearance  to- 
wards me,  that  he  has  continued  such  a  dry  and 
barren  tree  as  I  am  in  his  vineyard  for  so  many 
years,  and  continued  to  me  the  gifts  of  his  bounty 
and  grace  ;  and  particularly  acknowledging  the  last 
year  to  have  been  a  year  of  much  mercy,  especially 
in  the  encouragement  given  to  my  ministry  ; — 

Lamenting  and  bewailing  my  great  unfruitful- 
ness,  and  that  I  have  governed  my  thoughts,  appe- 
tites, passions,  and  words,  no  better ;  that  I  have 
husbanded  my  time  and  opportunities  no  better; 
and  improved  so  little  in  knowledge  and  grace,  and 
done  so  little  to  the  honor  of  my  great  Creator  and 
Redeemer ; — 

But  being  also  more  and  more  confirmed  in  my 
belief  of  the  being  and  attributes  of  God,  of  the 
mediation  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  between  God 
and  man,  and  of  the  reality  and  weight  of  invisible 
things,  and  being  more  and  more  satisfied  that  this 
is  the  true  grace  of  God  wherein  I  stand,  and  more 
fully  resolved,  in  the  strength  of  God,  to  stand 
in  it ; — 

"  I  do  solemnly  resign  and  give  up  my  whole  self 
to  God  in  Jesus  Christ.    I  commit  my  soul  and  all 


REV.  MATTHEU'  HENRY. 


91 


the  concerns  of  my  spiritual  state  to  the  grace  of 
God,  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  subjecting  my- 
self to  the  conduct  and  government  of  the  blessed 
Spirit,  and  to  his  influences  and  operations,  which  I 
earnestly  desire  and  depend  upon  for  the  mortifying 
of  my  corruptions,  the  strengthening  of  my  graces, 
the  furnishing  of  me  for  every  good  word  and  work, 
and  the  ripening  of  me  for  heaven. 

"  I  commit  my  body,  and  all  the  concerns  of  my 
outward  condition,  to  the  providence  of  God,  to  be 
ordered  and  disposed  by  the  wisdom  and  will  of  my 
heavenly  Father.  Xot  knowing  the  things  which 
may  befall  me  tliis  year,  I  refer  myself  to  God. 
Whether  it  shall  be  my  dying  year  or  no,  I  know 
not ;  but  it  is  my  earnest  expectation  and  hope,  that 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  shall  be  magnified  in  my  body, 
whether  it  be  by  life  or  death,  by  health  or  sickness, 
by  plenty  or  poverty,  by  liberty  or  restraint,  by 
preaching  or  silence,  by  comfort  or  sorrow.  Wel- 
come, welcome  the  will  of  God,  whatever  it  be.  The 
Lord  give  me  grace  to  stand  complete  in  it." 

"  October  18,  1701.  This  day,  through  the  good 
hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  I  have  finished  the  thirty- 
ninth  year  of  my  pilgrimage,  and  ha^-ing  obtained 
help  of  God,  I  continue  hitherto,  knowing  whom  I 
have  trusted,  and  trusting  whom  I  have  known.  The 
greatest  comfort  of  my  life  has  been,  that  God  haS 
been  pleased  to  use  me  for  his  service,  and  my  great- 
est grief,  that  I  have  been  so  little  serviceable  to  him. 


92 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


I  have  thought  much  this  day,  what  a  great  variety 
of  cross  events  I  am  liable  to  while  in  the  body,  and 
how  uncertain  what  may  befall  me  in  the  next  year 
of  my  life,  pain,  or  sickness,  broken  bones,  loss  in 
my  estate,  death  of  dear  relations,  reproach,  divisions 
in  the  congregation,  public  restraints  and  troubles  ; 
my  fortieth  year  may  be  as  Israel's  was,  the  last  of 
my  sojourning  in  this  wilderness.  The  worst  of  evils 
would  be  sin  and  scandal.  The  Lord  keep  me  from 
that,  and  fit  me  for  any  other." 

"  December  31,  lYOl.  Believing  prayer  to  be  an 
instituted  way  of  communion  with  God,  and  fetching 
in  mercy  and  grace  from  him,  I  have  comfort  in  it 
daily ;  my  daily  prayers  are  the  sweetest  of  my  daily 
comforts.  Having  of  late  had  my  body  feasted 
above  the  ordinary  meals,  I  desire  this  day  to  have 
my  soul  fed  more  plentifully  with  the  duty  of  prayer, 
and  thus  to  close  the  year,  which,  Janus-like,  looks 
both  ways.  1  have  not  had  this  year  such  remark- 
able afflictions  as  some  other  years.  The  greatest 
has  been  the  death  of  my  dear  and  honorable  friend. 
Madam  Hunt  of  Boreatton.  But  my  errands  to  the 
throne  of  grace  to-day  are, 

*'  1.  By  way  of  lamentation  and  humiliation. 

"  I  have  reason  to  lament  greatly  the  strength  of 
my  own  corruptions  and  weakness  of  my  graces. 
By  reason  of  the  former,  I  am  as  smoking  flax ;  by 
reason  of  the  latter,  as  a  bruised  reed.  I  am  still 
full  of  vain  thoughts,  and  empty  of  good  thoughts. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


93 


Many  of  my  secret  prayers  are  wretchedly  disfigured 
and  spoiled  by  a  multitude  of  distractions  and  di- 
ver^ions  of  mind ;  the  flesh  and  the  things  of  the 
flesh  still  minded,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Spirit,  and 
the  neglect  of  the  things  of  the  Spirit. 

I  have  lost  a  great  deal  of  precious  time,  and 
not  filled  it  up,  or  else  I  might  have  gone  farther 
forwai'd  in  my  notes  on  the  evangelist  John.*  Sins 
easily  beset  me,  and  I  do  not  the  things  that  I  would. 

"  I  have  very  much  reason  to  bewail  my  manifold 
defects  in  my  ministerial  work,  my  coldness  in  prayer, 
that  I  speak  not  of  the  things  of  God  with  more 
clearness  and  concern.  0,  how  many,  hovr  great, 
are  the  iniquities  of  my  holy  things ! 

"  I  bewail  the  little  success  of  my  ministry,  and 
the  miscarriages  of  some  this  year,  for  hereby  my 
God  v/ill  humble  me.  Grief  also,  great  grief  for  the 
sill  of  :  some  of  the  young  whom  I  have  cate- 
chized and  taken  pains  with,  are  no  comfort  to  mo. 
Lord,  show  me  Avherefore  thou  contendest  with  me. 
The  low  condition  of  the  church  of  God  ouo-ht 

o 

*  This  was  written  several  years  before  Mr.  Henry's  Expo- 
sition upon  the  New,  or  even  the  Old  Testament  appeared. 
In  the  following  extract  from  the  preface  to  the  first  volume 
of  that  great  work,  the  allusion  is  satisfactorily  explained. 
"  It  has  long  been  my  practice,  what  little  time  I  had  to  spare 
in  my  study  from  my  constant  preparations  for  the  pulpit,  to 
spend  in  drawing  up  expositions  upon  some  parts  of  the  New 
Testament,  not  so  much  for  my  ov/n  use,  as  purely  for  my 
own  entertainment,  because  I  knew  not  how  to  employ  my 
thoughts  and  time  more  to  my  satisfaction." 


94 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


to  be  greatly  lamented ;  the  Protestant  interest  small, 
very  small ;  a  decay  of  piety ;  attempts  for  reforma- 
tion ineffectual.    Help,  Lord  ! 

"2.  By  way  of  prayer  and  supplication.  I  have 
many  errands  at  the  throne  of  grace  this  day. 

''The  pardon  of  sin,  victory  over  my  corrup- 
tions and  temptations,  mortifying  my  lusts,  which  go 
not  forth  but  by  prayer  and  fasting.  In  reference 
to  sin,  I  desire  I  may  be  enabled  to  act  faith  upon 
Rom.  6  :  14,  'Sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over 
you ;  for  ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace 
and  Ezek.  36:25-27,  'Thenv.ill  I  sprinkle  clean 
water  upon  you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean ;  from  all 
your  filthiness,  and  from  all  your  idols,  will  I  cleanse 
you :  a  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new 
spirit  will  I  put  within  you,'  etc. 

"The  increase  of  my  ministerial  gifts,  a  sound 
judgment,  a  clear  expression,  a  door  of  utterance, 
readiness  in  the  Scriptures  ;  in  reference  to  which,  I 
desire  I  may  be  helped  to  act  faith  upon  Exod.  4:12, 
'  Go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy  mouth,  and  teach  thee 
what  thou  shalt  say;'  and  John  14  :  26,  'He  shall 
teach  you  all  things.' 

"The  success  of  my  ministerial  labors,  that  sin- 
ners may  be  converted,  saints  built  up,  and  the  con- 
gregation flourish  ;  in  reference  to  this,  I  desire  to 
act  faith  on  Matt.  28  :  20,  '  Lo,  I  am  with  you'  al- 
ways;' and  Isa.  55:  10,  11,  'As  the  rain  cometh 
down,'  etc. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


95 


The  blessing  of  God  upon  my  wife  and  children ; 
that  God  will  give  his  grace  to  my  dear  little  ones, 
and  drive  out  the  foolishness  bound  up  in  their 
hearts ;  in  reference  to  which  I  desire  to  act  faith 
on  Isa.  44  :  3,  *  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  thy 
seed,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  offspring.' 

My  other  dear  relations  I  would  recommend  to 
God's  protection  and  blessing  in  prayer ;  my  friends, 
acquaintance,  brethren  in  the  ministry,  in  London, 
in  Dubhn,  in  Cheshire,  and  Lancashire  particularly; 
and  the  congregation  at  Broad  Oak,  and  their  min- 
ister, some  members  of  parliament,  and  other  gen- 
tlemen of  my  acquaintance." 

"January  1,  1702.  The  covenant  of  grace  being 
a  new  covenant,  because  ever  new,  and  often  to  be 
renewed,  I  have,  this  new-year's  day,  early  in  the 
morning,  while  it  is  yet  dark,  solemnly  renewed  it 
upon  my  knees :  and  be  it  a  memorandum  indeed, 
ever  remembered,  and  never  forgotten. 

Humbly  acknowledging  my  dependence  upon 
God,  as  my  Creator  and  the  Author  of  my  being ; 
my  obligations  in  duty  to  him  as  my  sovereign 
Lord  and  Ruler,  and  my  engagements  in  gratitude 
to  him  as  my  Protector  and  Benefactor ;  and  mention- 
ing, with  thankfulness,  the  many  mercies  of  my  life 
hitherto,  and  particularly  those  of  the  year  past; 
during  which  I  have  found  myself  the  care  of  a  very 
kind  Providence,  which  has  made  the  steps  of  my 
pilgrimage  comfortable ;  which  has  preserved  to  me 


96 


MEMOIR  OF  TIIH 


the  use  of  my  reason  and  understanding,  limbs  and 
senses  ;  hath  continued  my  hberty  and  opportunity 
to  exercise  niy  ministry  ;  hath  provided  plentifully 
for  me  and  my  family,  and  loaded  me  daily  with  his 
benefits.  For  all  which  I  praise  his  name,  and  for 
the  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ;  to  which  I  owe  all. 

"  Acknowledging,  also,  and  lamenting  the  remain- 
ing strength  of  my  corruptions,  and  my  bent  to 
backslide  from  the  living  God,  taking  to  myself  the 
shame  of  my  many  defects  and  folhes,  notwithstand- 
ing ray  frequent  renewing  of  my  covenant  with  God, 
and  flying  to  Christ  for  righteousness,  pardon,  and 
peace. 

"  I  once  more  bind  my  soul  with  a  bond  to  be  the 
Lord's  wholly,  and  only,  and  for  ever  his.  Into  thy 
hands,  0  God,  I  commit  my  spirit,  to  be  ruled, 
cleansed,  and  sanctified  throughout,  qualified  for  thy 
service  in  this  world,  and  for  the  fruition  of  thee  in 
the  other.  My  body  I  present  unto  thee  a  living 
sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable,  for  it  is  my  reasonable 
service.  My  ministry  I  devote  to  thy  honor,  and 
the  continuance  and  success  of  it  I  submit  to  thy 
Tvilh  All  my  worldly  comforts  I  lay  at  thy  feet,  to 
be  disposed  of  as  thou  pleasest.  My  life  itself  is 
thine ;  0  God  of  my  hfe,  'my  times  are  in  thy  hand.* 
"Whatever  may  be  the  events  of  this  year,  let  divine 
grace  be  sufficient  for  me,  to  enable  me  to  accommo- 
date myself  to  the  will  of  God  in  them ;  and  then 
nothing  can  come  amiss.    If  God  will  be  with  me, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


97 


and  keep  me  in  the  way  that  I  go,  throughout  the 
remaining  part  of  my  pilgrimage  in  the  world  where 
I  am  but  a  stranger,  and  will  give  me  bread  to  eat 
and  raiment  to  put  on,  and  a  heart  to  love  him,  and 
serve  him,  and  live  to  him,  so  that  I  may  come  at 
last  to  my  heavenly  Father's  house  in  peace,  then 
shall  the  Lord  be  my  God,  my  Lord  and  my  God 
for  ever.    Amen.  Hallelujah. 

"  Matthew  Hexry." 

*'  October  18,  1702.  This  day  I  have  completed 
the  fortieth  year  of  my  life ;  of  life  did  I  say  ?  Rath- 
er, indeed,  of  my  inactivity  and  folly,  but  of  the 
tender  mercy,  kindness,  and  forbearance  of  God 
towards  me.  To  Christ  my  Mediator  I  joyfully  ac- 
knowledge myself  a  debtor  for  the  supports,  and 
aids,  and  comforts  of  life ;  and  to  that  same  Christ 
I  wholly  trust,  that  I  shall  receive  from*  my  God, 
wonderfully  propitiated,  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins, 
grace  for  seasonable  help,  and  preservation  even 
imto  eternal  hfe." 

"December  31,  1*702.  1.  As  to  myself  and 
family,  the  days  of  another  year  are  numbered  and 
finished — a  year  not  made  particularly  remarkable 
by  any  great  change  in  my  circumstances ;  no  new 
thing  created,  but 

"  (1.)  The  usual  matter  of  complaint  against  my- 
self ;  folly  is  still  found,  yea,  bound  up,  in  my  heart; 
though  I  hope,  through  grace,  coiTuption  is  dying, 
yet  not  without  some  struggles,  and  much  opposition 

Matthaw  Hezuy.  ' 


98 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


from  a  naughty  heart.  I  desire  to  lament  my  un- 
skilfulness  and  unreadiness  in  Scripture,  my  dulness 
in  holy  duties,  particularly  in  secret.  I  wish  I  had 
prayed  more  for  the  success  of  my  ministry,  but 
sometimes  I  have  thought  I  should  pray  more  for 
grace,  to  make  me  faithful  myself,  that  I  may  be 
accepted  of  God,  though  not  of  men ;  but,  perhaps, 
I  should  pray  more  for  the  prosperity  of  the  work 
of  God,  even  in  my  hand,  though  most  unworthy ; 
vain  thoughts,  crowds  of  them,  are  matter  of  com- 
plaint daily ;  never  was  corrupt  soil  more  fruitful  in 
weeds. 

"  (2.)  The  usual  matter  of  thanksgiving  to  God. 
I  have  had  great  measure  of  health,  few  of  my 
brethren  so  much.  I  note  it,  because,  perhaps,  the 
ensuing  year  may  bring  sickness  or  death  with  it.  I 
have  not  ailed  any  thing  considerable,  and  sometimes 
the  highest  degree  of  health  is  the  next  degree  to 
sickness.  I  have  not  so  many  sensible  memoranda 
of  my  frailty  as  those  have  that  are  often  ailing. 
The  Lord  grant  I  may,  by  the  power  of  grace,  be 
kept  more  mindful  of  it. 

"  Ever  since  brother  Radford  died,  which  is  now 
three  years  ago,  death  has  made  no  breach  among 
my  relations.  Since  I  set  out  in  the  world,  I  never 
was  so  long  without  the  death  of  children,  or  others 
near  and  dear  to  me.  My  children  are  very  health- 
ful, and  have  had  no  ill  accident.  My  dear  wife, 
though  often  mdisposed,  yet,  blessed  be  God,  under 


REV,  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


99 


no  languishing  disease ;  and  my  dear  mother  still 
continued  in  usefulness. 

"  As  to  my  ministry,  that  which  has  been  most 
discouraging  this  year  is,  that  few  young  persons 
have  come  into  communion,  I  think  fewer  than  any 
other  year. 

"  As  to  my  estate,  I  have  lived  comfortably  upon 
it  with  what  I  have  received  here,  but  while  in  these 
circumstances,  I  cannot  expect  to  lay  by  much  ;  per- 
haps troubles  may  come  which  may  sweep  away  all. 
I  have  some  comfort,  that  I  hope  I  do  some  good 
with  what  I  have,  and  spend  none  of  it  ill. 

"2.  As  to  the  public,  the  death  of  the  king  [Will- 
iam III.]  this  year  has  made  a  great  change  in  the 
face  of  things,  though  not  yet  such  a  change  as 
many  feared.  Our  successes  abroad,  both  by  sea 
and  land,  have  been  very  great,  which  magnifies  the 
present  government,  and  that  we  have  reason  to  re- 
joice in.  The  discontented  in  the  last  reign  are  now 
pleased.  I  wish  they  may  ever  be  so.  The  high- 
church  are  very  high,  both  against  the  low  and  dis- 
senters. Now,  Lord,  behold  their  threatenings.  We 
are  alarmed  to  think  of  sufferings,  and  we  need  such 
alarms. 

"  I  have  heartily  wished  that  the  bigotry  of  some 
violent  conformists  on  the  one  side,  and  of  some  dis- 
senters on  the  other,  might  drive  the  sober,  mode- 
rate, and  peaceful  on  both  sides  nearer  together,  and 
prepare  things  for  a  coalescence  when  God's  time  is 


100 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


come ;  which  I  earnestly  pray  for,  and  which,  per- 
haps, might  be  effected  if  they  could  disentangle 
themselves  as  much  from  the  high- church  as  I  think 
we  are  from  the  high- dissenters,  or  I  wish  we  were. 

''IVOS,  January  1.  'Looking  for  the  blessed 
hope.'  This  new-year's  day  I  have  in  much  weak- 
ness, and  compassed  about  with  many  infirmities, 
upon  my  knees,  made  a  fresh  surrender  of  myself, 
my  whole  self,  all  I  am,  all  I  have,  all  I  can  do,  to 
God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  my  Creator, 
Owner,  Ruler,  and  Benefactor ;  all  my  affections  to 
be  ruled  by  the  divine  grace,  and  all  my  affairs  to 
be  overruled  by  the  divine  Providence,  so  that  I 
may  not  come  short  of  glorifying  God  in  this  world, 
and  being  glorified  with  him  in  a  better. 

"  Confirming  and  ratifying  all  former  resignations 
of  myself  to  God,  and  lamenting  all  the  want  of 
conformity  of  my  heart  and  life  therewith,  and  de- 
pending upon  the  merit  of  the  Redeemer  to  make 
this  and  all  my  other  services  acceptable,  and  the 
grace  of  the  Sanctifier  to  enable  me  to  make  good 
these  engagements,  I  again  bind  my  soul  with  a 
bond  to  the  Lord,  and  commit  myself  entirely  to  him ; 
particularly  as  to  the  events  of  this  year  which  I 
am  now  entering  upon,  not  knowing  the  things  that 
may  abide  me  in  it. 

"  If  this  year  should  be  a  year  of  continued  health 
and  comfort,  I  commit  myself  to  the  grace  of  God, 
to  be  preserved  from  carnal  security,  and  to  be 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


101 


enabled  in  a  day  of  prosperity  to  serve  God  Tvith 

joy- 

"  If  my  opportunities,  as  a  minister,  should  be 
this  year  continued,  I  commit  my  studies,  and  min- 
isterial labors  at  home  ar.d  abroad,  to  the  blessing  of 
God ;  having  afresh  consecrated  them  all  to  his  ser- 
vice and  honor,  earnestly  desiring  mercy  of  the  Lord 
to  be  faithful  and  successful. 

If  I  should  be  this  year  at  any  time  tried  with 
doubts  concerning  my  duty,  I  commit  myself  to  the 
divine  conduct,  with  an  unbiassed  desire,  praying  to 
know  what  God  will  have  me  to  do,  with  a  fixed 
resolution  by  his  grace  to  follow  his  direction  in  the 
integrity  of  my  heart. 

If  I  should  this  year  be  afflicted  in  my  body, 
family,  name,  or  estate,  I  commit  my  all  to  the  di- 
^  ine  disposal.  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done,  only 
begging  that  the  grace  of  God  may  go  along  with 
the  providence  of  God  in  all  my  afflictions,  to  enable 
me  both  to  bear  them  well,  and  to  use  them  well. 

"  If  this  year  I  should  be  disturbed  or  molested 
in  the  exercise  of  my  ministry,  if  I  should  be  si- 
lenced, or  otherwise  suffer  for  well-doing,*  I  commit 

*  These,  and  similar  references  to  the  troubles,  dangers,  and 
persecutions  to  which  good  men  were  exposed  in  the  times  in 
which  'Sir.  Henry  lived,  cannot  be  read  without  mingled  emo- 
tions of  commiseration  for  the  sufferers,  and  gratitude  to  God 
fjr  casting  our  lot  who  live  in  the  nineteenth  century  upon 
other  times,  when  civil  and  religious  liberty  are  better  under- 
stood and  more  generally  diffused  and  enjoyed.    "  The  lines 


102 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


the  keeping  of  my  soul  to  God  as  a  faithful  Creator, 
depending  upon  him  to  guide  me  in  my  call  to  suf- 
fer, and  to  make  that  clear,  and  to  preserve  me  from 
perplexing  snares ;  depending  upon  him  to  support 
and  comfort  me  under  my  sufiFerings,  and  to  bring 
glory  to  himself  out  of  them ;  and  then,  welcome 
his  whole  will. 

**  If  this  year  should  be  my  dying  year,  as  perhaps 
it  may  be,  I  commit  my  spirit  into  the  hands  of  my 
Redeemer,  to  be  washed  with  his  blood,  and  pre- 
sented in  his  arms  with  exceeding  joy.  My  wife 
and  children  I  commit  to  him,  to  be  owned,  blessed, 
and  preserved  by  him  when  I  am  gone.  *  In  thee, 
O  Lord,  have  I  put  my  trust,  let  me  never  be 
ashamed.'  " 

"October  18,  1703.  To-day  is  completed  the 
forty-first  year  of  my  wandering  in  this  wilderness. 
Very  many  of  my  days  have  slipped  by  fruitlessly 
and  unprofitably.  And,  what  ought  to  make  me 
ashamed,  all  truly  peaceful,  and  full  of  divine  be- 
nignity, and  ever  to  be  recorded  with  gratitude  to 
God.  What  remains  I  know  not :  a  few  days,  per- 
haps, and  full  of  trouble ;  but  the  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done.  To  me  to  live  is  Christ ;  so  shall  it  al- 
ways be,  and  eternally ;  and  to  die,  gain." 

"December  31,  1703."  [After  reciting,  as  on 
some  former  occasions,  his  sins  and  mercies,  and 

have  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places."  What  obligations  do 
our  privileges  involve  I 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


103 


observing  that  even  under  the  Gospel  there  must  be 
a  remembrance  of  sins  every  year,  he  proceeds,] 
"  Not  such  a  remembrance  as  speaks  any  deficiency 
in  the  sacrifice,  as  that  under  the  law  did,  but  such 
as  speaks  deficiency  in  my  daily  repentance,  which 
ought  therefore  to  be  renewed,  and  the  imperfection 
of  the  work  of  sanctification." 

"  Unfixedness  of  thought,  a  wretched  desultori- 
ness.  Some  speak  of  time  well  spent  in  thinking ; 
but  I  find,  unless  in  speaking,  reading,  or  writing, 
my  thinking  doth  not  turn  to  much  account. 
Though  I  have  had  comfort  in  some  broken  good 
thoughts,  yet  I  can  seldom  fix  my  heart  to  a  chain 
of  them.  0  that  the  thought  of  my  heart  may  be 
forgiven. 

"  I  have  oft  bewailed  my  barrenness  in  good  dis- 
course, and  unskilfulness  in  beginning  it,  and  cold- 
ness of  concern  for  the  souls  of  others  ;  and  in  re- 
flection on  this  year,  I  find  it  has  not  been  much 
better.  I  bless  God  I  love  good  discourse,  and 
would  promote  it,  but  I  want  zeal.  The  Lord  pity 
me. 

"  I  have  great  reason  to  be  thankful  for  continued 
health,  for  comfort  in  my  soul,  not  made  a  terror  to 
rnyself.  I  have  oft  thought  this  year  what  a  mercy 
it  is  to  be  kept  out  of  the  horrible  pit  and  miry 
clay. 

**  I  have  had  much  satisfaction  this  year  in  my 
non-conformity,  especially  by  reading  Mr.  Hoadley's 


104 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


books,  in  which  I  see  a  manifest  spirit  of  Christianity 
unhappily  leavened  by  the  spirit  of  conformity." 

"January  1,  1704.  AcknoAvledging  my  con- 
tinued dependence  upon  God  as  my  Creator,  Pre- 
server, and  chief  good ;  and  my  continued  obhga- 
tions  to  him  in  duty  as  my  Lord  and  Ruler ;  and  in 
interest,  as  my  Benefactor  and  Protector ;  believing 
that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  the  rewarder  of  them  that 
diligently  seek  him — 

"  Relying  upon  the  merit,  mediation,  and  ever- 
lasting righteousness  of  my  dear  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  who  loved  me  and  gave  himself  for 
me,  as  my  w^ay  to  the  Father,  and  the  spotless  robe 
wherein  alone  I  can  appear  before  him — 

"  And  submitting  my  soul  to  the  operation  and 
influences  of  the  blessed  Spirit  of  grace,  without 
which  I  am  nothing,  and  can  do  nothing — 

"Thankfully  owning  God's  goodness  to  me  the 
last  year,  in  lengthening  out  my  life,  health,  com- 
fort in  soul,  peace,  plenty,  settlement,  relations,  lib- 
erty, and  opportunity,  and  admiring  his  patience, 
forbearance,  long- suffering,  in  sparing  me  in  his 
vineyard,  who  deserved  to  have  been  cut  down  and 
cast  into  the  fire  as  a  barren  tree — 

"  Lamenting  my  foolishness,  the  foolishness  which 
is  still  bound  up  in  my  heart,  and  that  w^hich  still 
breaks  forth  in  my  life ;  and  particularly  that  my 
improvements  in  grace  and  usefulness  last  year  did 
not  answer  the  covenants  which  began  it — 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


105 


"  Because  of  all  this,  I  make  a  sure  covenant,  and 
write  it. 

"  In  the  strength  of  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  on 
which  alone  I  depend  to  work  all  my  works  in  me 
and  for  me,  I  covenant  for  this  new  year,  and  for 
my  whole  life,  to  walk  closely  with  God  in  all  holy 
conversation,  to  keep  my  heart  with  all  diligence ; 
and  to  thee,  0  my  God,  I  commit  the  keeping  of  it. 
To  take  heed  to  my  ways,  that  I  sin  not  with  my 
tongue ;  and  do  thou  set  a  watch,  0  Lord,  before 
the  door  of  my  lips.  I  covenant  to  redeem  my 
time,  and  to  thee,  0  God,  do  I  consecrate  this  year, 
and  all  the  hours  of  it.  The  Lord  enable  me  to  fill 
it  up  with  good  according  as  the  duty  of  every  day 
requires.  I  bind  myself  to  follow  the  spirit  of  God 
in  all  my  affections,  and  the  providence  of  God  in 
all  my  affairs,  whatever  God  shall  appoint  me  to 
this  year ;  to  health  or  sickness,  to  plenty  or  loss, 
to  evil  report  or  good  report,  to  liberty  or  restraint, 
to  the  house  of  mourning  or  the  house  of  rejoicing, 
to  life  or  death.  Behold,  here  I  am,  let  him  do 
with  me  as  seemeth  good  in  his  eyes.  Only,  what- 
ever the  providence  of  God  allots  for  me,  let  the 
grace  of  God  be  sufficient  for  me,  to  enable  me  to 
accommodate  myself  to  it ;  and  then  welcome  the 
will  of  God." 


106 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Journey  to  London — Hears  John  Howe — Mr.  Henry's  general 
health  good — Sudden  seizure  and  sickness — Anniversary 
reflections — Death  of  Mr.  Henry's  mother — Anniversary 
reflections. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1704,  Mr.  Henry, 
accompanied  by  Mrs.  Henry,  again  visited  the  me- 
tropolis. The  particular  occasion  of  the  journey 
does  not  appear.  One  remark,  however,  made  by 
him  on  leaving  Northampton,  may  be  properly  cited 
as  indicative  of  the  spirit  in  which  he  travelled  ;  the 
same  spirit,  indeed,  which  gave  consistency  and  ele- 
vation to  his  whole  character,  both  at  home  and 
abroad.    The  remark  was  this : 

"  It  is  easy  to  leave  an  inn;  why  should  it  not  be 
easy  to  leave  this  world,  which  is  but  an  inn,  to  go 
to  our  house,  our  Father's  house  ?  The  troubles 
of  travelling  exercise  our  patience  and  submission  to 
God's  will.  By  submission  in  lesser  things,  we 
learn  it  in  greater.  But  they  also  give  us  to  expe- 
rience the  goodness  of  God  in  our  preservation,  and 
encourage  us  to  hope  in  that  goodness  in  our  jour- 
ney for  heaven." 

The  record  of  a  sermon,  which  he  heard  preached 
on  Sabbath  morning,  the  day  after  his  arrival  in 
London,  by  the  celebrated  John  Howe,  is  worthy 
of  attention  ;  it  is  perfectly  characteristic  of  both 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


107 


the  parties ;  it  is,  moreover,  fraught  with  universal 
instruction ;  and  as  embraced,  may  prove  a  balm 
of  heahng  and  refreshment  to  such  as  move  heavily 
along  the  narrow  way,  under  a  prevailing  sense  of 
their  own  unworthiness. 

"  The  text,"  says  Mr.  Henry,  "  was  Jude  21 ;  and 
I  must  never  forget  what  he  said  in  the  close  of  the 
sermon.  *  I  would  deal  for  your  souls,'  said  the 
preacher,  *  as  for  my  own  ;  and  for  myself,  I  declare 
before  you  all,  I  depend  purely  upon  the  mercy  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  eternal  life.'  " 

In  due  time,  he  found  himself  again  in  the  midst 
of  his  beloved  charge  in  Chester.  Up  to  this  period, 
Mr.  Henry's  health  had  continued  good.  But, 
henceforward,  the  inroads  made  upon  his  frame  by 
disease  were  frequent  and  alarming. 

On  Lord's  day,  August  27,  1*704,  while  reading 
the  Scriptures  during  the  morning  service,  he  sud- 
denly fainted ;  but,  recovering  speedily,  he  pro- 
ceeded in  his  beloved  work.  Had  he  taken  rest  the 
subsequent  effects  would  probably  have  been  pre- 
vented. But,  unskilled  in  the  art  of  self-sparing, 
and  impelled  by  holy  zeal,  instead  of  relaxing  as 
he  ought  to  have  done,  the  next  day  he  fulfilled  an 
appointment  to  preach  at  Nantwich,  and  the  day 
following,  another  at  Haslington.  The  latter  was  a 
funeral  sermon  for  an  aged  and  faithful  minister, 
pursuant  to  the  desire  of  the  deceased,  and  preached 
to  a  large  congregation.    These  engagements,  by 


108 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


the  excitement  they  produced,  added  much  to  his 
exhaustion. 

On  his  return  home  the  consequences  were  dis- 
tinctly visible,  and  indisposition  so  much  increased 
as  to  confine  him  altogether  to  the  house.  Not 
having  for  fifteen  years  been  detained  from  public 
worship  on  the  Sabbath,  he  felt  the  imprisonment 
very  sensibly ;  but  still  not  so  as  to  overlook  exist- 
ing mercies.  His  fever  continued  more  than  three 
weeks ;  but  he  was  able,  during  the  whole  time, 
with  but  one  exception,  as  he  himself  expressed  it, 
both  "to  light  the  lamps,  and  to  burn  the  incense 
that  is,  daily  to  expound  the  Scriptures  and  pray  in 
his  family,  morning  and  evening.  On  the  recovery 
of  his  health,  he  did  not  wait  for  the  Sabbath  in 
order  to  resume  his  appearance  in  the  sanctuary ; 
but,  being  able,  preferred  appearing  there  on  the 
lecture  day ;  thus  evincing  his  zeal  and  devotion. 

I  was  willincr  "  said  he,  "to  cro  thither  first,  where 
I  most  desire  to  be.  I  would  take  the  first  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  my  vows." 

The  order  of  the  history  requires  that  further 
extracts  from  Mr.  Henry's  diary  should  be  here  in- 
serted ;  which,  it  is  presumed,  the  pious  reader  will 
not  regret. 

"1Y05.  January  1.  Not  renouncing,  but  repeat- 
ing and  ratifying  all  my  former  covenants  with  God, 
and  lamenting  that  I  have  not  lived  up  more  closely 
to  them,  I  do,  in  the  beginning  of  this  new  year, 


REV,  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


109 


solemnly  make  a  fresli  surrender  of  myself,  my  whole 
self,  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  to  God  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost ;  my  Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanc- 
tifier ;  covenanting  and  promising,  not  in  any  strength 
of  my  own,  for  I  am  very  weak,  but  in  the  strength 
of  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  I  will  endeavor 
this  year  to  stand  complete  in  all  the  will  of  God. 

"  I  know  this  is  the  will  of  God,  even  my  sancti- 
fication.  Lord,  grant  that  this  yetr  I  may  be  more 
holy,  and  walk  more  closely  than  ever  in  all  holy 
conversation.  I  earnestly  desire  to  be  filled  with 
holy  thoughts,  to  be  carried  out  in  holy  affections, 
determined  by  holy  aims  and  intentions,  and  gov- 
erned in  all  my  words  and  actions  by  holy  princi- 
ples. 0  that  a  golden  thread  of  holiness  may  run 
through  the  whole  web  of  this  year. 

"  I  know  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  be 
useful,  and  by  his  grace  I  will  be  so.  Lord,  thou 
knowest  it  is  the  top  of  my  ambition  in  this  world 
to  do  good,  and  to  be  serviceable  to  the  honor  of 
Christ,  and  the  welfare  of  precious  souls.  I  would 
fain  do  good  in  the  pulpit,  and  good  with  my  pen ; 
and,  which  I  earnestly  desire  to  abound  more  in,  to 
do  good  by  my  common  converse.  0  that  the  door 
of  my  opportunities  may  be  still  open,  and  that,  my 
heart  may  be  enlarged  with  holy  zeal  and  activity 
for  God  this  year ;  and  that  I  may  be  thoroughly 
furnished  with  knowledge,  wisdom,  and  grace,  for 
every  good  word  and  work. 


110 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


"  If  it  be  the  will  of  God  that  this  year  should  be 
a  year  of  affliction  to  me,  a  year  of  sickness,  or  re- 
proach, or  loss ;  if  my  family  should  be  visited,  if 
my  hberties  should  be  cut  short,  if  public  troubles 
should  arise,  if  any  calamity  should  befall  me  which 
I  am  least  apprehensive  of  now,  I  earnestly  desire 
to  submit  to  the  divine  disposal.  Welcome  the  holy 
will  of  God.  Let  me  have  God's  favor,  and  the 
assurances  of  thdt,  and  by  his  grace  nothing  shall 
come  amiss  to  me. 

If  it  be  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  finish  my 
course  this  year,  let  me  be  found  of  Christ  in  peace, 
and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  death  shall  be  welcome 
to  me.  My  wife  and  children  and  relations,  my 
congregation  which  is  very  dear  to  me,  my  minis- 
try, myself,  and  my  all,  I  commit  to  God,  whose  I 
am,  and  whom  I  desire  to  serve.  Let  me  be  the 
Lord's  only,  wholly,  and  for  ever.  Amen.  The 
Lord  say  Amen  to  it. 

October  18,  1705.  I  have  this  day  completed 
the  forty- third  year  of  my  useless  life.  By  the 
grace  of  God  I  live ;  I  hope  in  his  mercy,  and  I 
pant  for  his  glory.  May  the  small  remnant  of  my 
time  be  a  season  of  repentance  for  the  sins,  and  of 
gratitude  for  the  mercies,  of  the  former  part  of  my 
life.  May  God  be  my  sun  and  shield,  and  may  I 
be  his  servant,  and  a  subject  of  his  kingdom,  even 
unto  the  end,  and  for  ever.    Amen  and  amen." 

''December  31,  1705,    We  bring  our  years  to 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY, 


111 


an  end,  like  a  laHe  that  is  told.  Lord,  teach  us  to 
number  our  days. 

In  the  review  of  the  year  I  find, 
"1.  That  I  have  as  much  reason  as  ever  to  be 
thankful  to  God.  It  has  been  a  year  of  much  mercy. 
My  life  has  been  continued  to  the  end  of  it,  though 
many  of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  have  been  re- 
moved in  the  midst  of  their  days,  who,  had  they 
lived,  would  have  done  God  more  service  than  I 
can,  particularly  my  dear  brother  Mr.  Chorlton.  I 
have  had  a  good  measure  of  health  for  my  ministry 
and  study ;  no  returns  or  remains  of  my  last  year's 
illness. 

*'  God  has  this  year  brought  my  children  through 

the  small-pox,  and  borne  up  my  dear  wife  under 
great  weakness. 

My  mother,  also,  though  brought  low,  has  been 
helped. 

My  door  of  opportunity  continues  open  at  home 
and  abroad ;  and  I  am  willing  to  hope  some  good  is 
done. 

"  That  which  is  especially  remarkable  as  the  mer- 
cy of  this  year,  is  the  happy  posture  of  our  pubhc 
affairs,  particularly  at  home.  After  a  mighty  strug- 
gle, moderate  counsels  have  prevailed.  God  has 
wonderfully  inclined  the  queen's  heart  [Queen 
Anne]  to  such  counsels,  and  useth  her  as  an  in- 
strument of  great  good  to  the  land,  that  the  excel- 
lency of  the  power  may  be  of  God.    Patrons  of  our 


112 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


liberty  have  been  strangely  raised  up  among  those 
who  have  no  kindness  for  us,  or  our  way.  The 
intemperate  acts  of  bigots  have  proved  to  make 
mightily  against  themselves ;  there  are  many  adver- 
saries, and  yet  the  door  continues  open.  Great  en- 
deavors used  to  render  us  contemptible,  odious, 
dangerous,  and  what  not,  and  yet  we  live  and  go 
on,  and  the  young  are  coming  in,  and  some  hopeful 
cases.  0  that  the  power  of  godliness,  holiness, 
seriousness,  and  heavenly-mindedness,  might  pre- 
vail more  among  us,  and  then  we  should  have  a 
very  hopeful  prospect.  And  who  can  tell  but  iuG.- 
nite  wisdom  may  yet  find  out  a  way  for  compre- 
hending us,  though  the  present  temper  of  our  neigh- 
bors rather  sets  it  at  a  greater  distance  than  ever. 

"2.  I  have  reason  to  make  the  old  complaint  of 
dulness  and  weakness,  and  coldness  of  affection  for 
divine  things.  The  Lord  strengthen  the  things 
which  remain. 

"Care  about  my  children,  providing  something 
for  them,  has  been  often  in  my  head ;  and,  perhaps, 
more  than  it  should  be.  Lord,  I  cast  the  care  upon 
thee,  who  hast  provided  well  for  me  ;  the  Lord  care 
for  them,  and  teach  me  my  duty,  and  then  with 
him  I  leave  the  event." 

"January  1,  1*705-6.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercy 
that  I  am  not  consumed.  By  night,  on  my  bed,  I 
endeavored  to  seek  him  whom  my  soul  loveth;  and 
now  I  begin  this  new  year, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


113 


"  1.  Earnestly  praying  for  the  graces  of  the  year, 
with  a  humble  subjection  of  soul  to  the  blessed 
Spirit  of  God,  that  I  may,  some  way  or  other,  emi- 
nently honor  and  glorify  God  this  year ;  that  I  may 
live  this  year  to  some  purpose ;  to  better  purpose 
than  I  did  the  last.  0  that  no  temptation  may  so 
overtake  me  this  year  as  to  overcome  me.  To  the 
conduct  of  divine  grace,  which  is,  I  know,  sufficient 
for  me,  I  here  solemnly  resign  myself,  my  thoughts, 
my  affections,  my  will,  and  all  the  intents  of  my 
heart,  to  be  directed  into  the  right  way,  and  kept 
and  quickened  in  it.  Let  me  this  year  receive  grace 
for  grace. 

"  2.  Patiently  waiting  for  the  events  of  the  year, 
with  a  humble  submission  to  the  holy  will  of  God. 
I  know  not  what  the  year  shall  bring  forth ;  but  I 
know  it  shall  brinar  forth  nothing:  amiss  to  me,  if 
God  be  my  God  in  covenant :  if  it  bring  forth  death, 
that,  I  hope,  shall  quite  finish  sin  and  free  me  from 
it — Lord,  let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  according 
to  thy  word.  I  commit  my  family  to  my  heavenly 
Father;  to  God,  even  my  own  God,  my  father's 
God,  my  children's  God.  0  pour  out  thy  Spirit 
upon  my  seed ;  thy  blessing,  that  blessing,  that 
blessing  of  blessings,  upon  my  off'spring,  that  they 
may  be  praising  God  on  earth  when  I  am  praising 
him  in  heaven.    Amen,  amen." 

"  January  1,  1707.  My  own  act  and  deed, 
through  the  grace  of  God,  I  have  made  it  many  a 

Matthew  Henry.  8 


114 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


time,  and  now  I  make  it  the  first  act  of  this  new 
year,  to  resign  myself  afresh  unto  the  Lord,  not  only 
for  the  year  ensuing,  but  for  my  whole  life,  and  for 
ever. 

"1.  To  thee,  0  God,  I  give  up  myself,  to  be  used 
and  employed  for  thee.  I  desire  to  live  no  longer 
than  I  may  do  thee  some  service.  Make  what  use 
of  me  thou  pleasest,  only  let  me  obtain  mercy  of 
the  Lord,  to  be  found  diligent,  humble,  and  faith- 
ful. 0  that  the  work  of  this  year  may  be  better 
done  than  that  of  the  last,  and  my  time  more  filled 
up ;  and  that  I  may  never  grow  weary  of  well- 
doing. 

"2.  To  thee,  0  God,  I  give  up  myself,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  by  thee  as  thou  pleasest.  I  know  not 
what  the  year  may  bring  forth  to  me,  or  to  my  fam- 
ily. But  welcome  the  holy  will  of  God ;  and  God, 
by  his  grace,  make  me  ready  for  it.  If  it  be  the 
last  year  of  my  life,  my  dying  year,  may  I  but  fin- 
ish my  course  with  joy;  and  farewell  this  world. 
Whatever  aflflictions  may  this  year  befall  me,  I  de- 
sire none  of  them  may  move  me  from  God  and  my 
duty." 

Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Henry's  father,  the  afflic- 
tions which  had  befallen  him  had  been  mitigated  by 
the  preservation  and  general  convalescence  of  his 
widowed  mother.  She  had  shared  his  trials  ;  eased 
the  burden  of  affliction  by  bearing  a  part  of  it ;  and, 
by  the  brilliancy  of  her  Christian  character,  had 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


115 


eminently  adorned  the  Gospel,  and  encouraged  her 
son  in  "the  work  of  the  Lord." 

But  now,  declining  health  and  advanced  years 
intimated  that  a  separation  between  parent  and 
child  was  not  far  distant.  And,  at  length,  on  the 
morning  of  Sabbath,  May  25,  1707,  he  received  the 
melancholy  tidings  of  her  departure. 

In  reference  to  this  event,  there  is  a  short  notice 
in  the  diary  of  her  sorrowing  son,  which  the  reader 
will  be  pleased  to  have  perpetuated.  He  says,  "  I 
find  with  the  profits  and  rents  of  this  current  year, 
that  there  will  be  Uttle  more  than  to  discharge  my 
dear  mother's  funeral  and  legacies  ;  but  no  debts  at 
all.  She  hved  with  comfort ;  bore  her  testimony  to 
the  goodness  of  God's  providence,  which  she  had 
experienced  all  her  days ;  did  not  increase  what 
she  had ;  nor  coveted  to  lay  up  ;  but  did  good  with 
it,  and  left  a  blessing  behind  her." 

The  anniversary  reflections  are  thus  continued  in 
his  diary  : 

1707,  October  18.  To  borrow  Caleb's  words, 
Joshua  14  :  10,  the  Lord  has  kept  me  alive  these 
forty-five  years.  So  long  I  have  lived,  and  lived 
under  the  divine  protection ;  a  wasting  candle  kept 
burning.  But  to  how  little  purpose  have  I  lived ! 
Thus  long  I  have  cumbered  the  ground.  0  that  I 
may  yet  bear  fruit." 

"  1707,  December  31.  As  to  the  year  past,  I 
have  as  much  reason  as  ever  to  lament  my  barren- 


116 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


ness  and  unfniitfulness,  tliat  I  have  not  made  a 
better  proficiency  in  knowledge  and  grace.  I  find 
myself  growing  into  years  ;  being  now  turned  forty- 
five.  1  begin  to  feel  my  journey  in  my  bones,  and 
I  desire  to  be  thereby  loosened  from  the  world,  and 
from  the  body.  The  death  of  my  dear  and  honored 
mother  this  year,  has  been  a  sore  breach  upon  my 
comfort ;  for  she  was  my  skilful,  faithful  counsellor ; 
and  it  is  an  intimation  to  me  that  now,  in  the  order 
of  nature,  I  must  go  next.  My  estate  is  somewhat 
increased :  the  Lord  enlarge  my  heart  to  do  good 
with  it;  but  as  goods  are  increased,  they  are  in- 
creased that  eat  them.  My  children  are  growing 
up,  and  that  reminds  me  that  I  am  going  down. 
As  to  my  ministry  here,  Mr.  Mainwaring's  leaving 
me,  and  his  wife,  has  been  very  much  my  discour- 
agement. But  Providence  so  ordered  it  that  Mr. 
Harvey's  congregation  are  generally  come  in  to  us, 
or  else  we  begin  to  dwindle,  so  that  I  should  have 
gone  on  very  heavily." 

"January  1,  1Y07-8,  early.  Christ  is  a  Chris- 
tian's all ;  and  he  is  my  all. 

"  Unto  thee,  0  blessed  Jesus,  my  only  Saviour 
and  Redeemer,  do  I  make  a  fresh  surrender  of  my 
whole  self  this  morning,  body,  soul,  and  spirit ;  to 
me  to  live  is  Christ,  particularly  this  ensuing  year. 

"  All  my  time,  strength,  and  service,  I  devote  to 
the  honor  of  the  Lord  Jesus ;  my  studies,  and  all 
my  ministerial  labors,  and  even  my  common  actions. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


117 


It  is  my  earnest  expectation  and  hope,  and  I  desire 
it  may  be  my  constant  aim  and  endeavor,  that  Jesus 
Christ  may  be  magnified  in  my  body. 

"  In  every  thing  wherein  I  have  to  do  with  God, 
my  entire  dependence  is  upon  Jesus  Christ  for 
strength  and  righteousness ;  and  whatever  I  do  in 
word  or  deed,  I  desire  to  do  all  in  his  name,  to  make 
him  my  Alpha  and  Omega.  The  anointed  of  the 
Lord  is  the  breath  of  my  nostrils  ;  through  his  hand 
I  desire  to  receive  all  my  comforts.  I  have  all  by 
him,  and  I  would  use  all  for  him. 

*'  If  this  should  prove  a  year  of  affliction,  a  sor- 
rowful year  upon  my  account,  I  will  draw  all  my 
supports  and  comforts  from  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
stay  myself  upon  his  everlasting  consolations,  and 
the  good  hope  I  have  in  him  through  grace. 

"  And  if  this  should  be  my  dying  year,  my  times 
are  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  and  with  a  hum- 
ble reliance  upon  his  mediation,  I  would  venture 
into  another  world,  looking  for  the  blessed  hope. 
Dying  as  well  as  living,  Jesus  Christ  will,  I  trust,  be 
orain  and  advantas:e  to  me. 

Good  Lord,  keep  this  always  in  the  imagination 
of  the  thought  of  my  heart,  and  establish  my  way 
before  thee." 

"  October  18,  ITOS.  To-day  I  have  finished  the 
forty-sixth  year  of  my  life.  My  infancy,  however, 
was  useless ;  my  childhood  and  youth  were  not  di- 
rected to  proper  objects ;  and  even  in  my  maturer 


118 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


age,  how  many  months  and  days  have  I  spent  to 
little  purpose !  So  that  I  have  lived  scarcely  one- 
tenth  part  of  my  time.  Forgive,  0  Lord,  my  idle- 
ness and  sloth.    For  me  to  live,  may  it  be  Christ." 

**  January  1,  1708-9.  The  inscribing  of  a  double 
year,  eight  and  nine,  puts  me  in  mind  to  look  back 
upon  the  year  past,  which  I  have  reason  to  do  with 
thankfulness  for  the  many  mercies  with  which  God 
has  crowned  it ;  and  with  sorrow  and  shame  for  the 
many  sins  with  which  I  have  blotted  it :  and  to  look 
forward  to  the  year  now  beginning,  which  I  have 
endeavored  to  begin  with  God. 

"My  outward  concerns,  as  to  my  health  and 
safety,  the  prosperity  of  my  affairs,  provision  for 
my  family,  the  continuance  of  my  life  and  the  lives 
of  my  relations  and  friends,  comfort  in  my  children 
and  congregation,  I  have  committed,  and  do  com- 
mit to  the  conduct  and  disposal  of  God's  gracious 
providence,  which  I  depend  upon  to  order  every 
thing  for  good  to  me.  Here  I  am,  let  the  Lord  do 
with  me  and  mine  as  seemeth  good  unto  him.  That 
Providence,  I  trust,  will  so  order  every  event  as 
that  nothing  shall  be  an  invincible  temptation  to  me 
to  draw  me  from  God  and  duty  in  any  instance. 

"The  affairs  of  my  soul,  and  all  the  concerns  of 
the  spiritual  and  divine  life,  I  commit  to  the  special 
grace  of  God,  which  I  trust  shall  be  sufficient  for 
me,  to  enable  me  to  keep  a  good  conscience ;  to  do 
my  duty  well  as  a  master  of  a  family,  and  as  a  min- 


REV.  xMATTHEW  HENRY. 


119 


ister ;  to  persevere  to  the  end  ;  and  to  finish  well. 
Lord,  do  not  leave  me,  nor  forsake  me  ;  I  will  seek 
thy  precepts.  0,  forsake  me  not  utterly.  The 
Lord  '  preserve  me  to  his  heavenly  kingdom.'  Amen. 
Amen." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Invitations  to  remove  to  London — An  invitation  from  Hack- 
ney renewed — His  determination  to  leave  Chester — His 
reasons  for  this  determination — Birthday  memorial. 

Ever  after  Mr.  Henry's  visit  to  London  in  the 
year  1698,  he  seems  to  have  been  an  object  of  de- 
sire by  almost  every  church,  whose  pastor,  if  at  all 
renowned,  was  either  removed  to  any  other  charge, 
or  laid  aside  by  death.  And  some  of  the  efforts 
made  to  obtain  his  services  were  imcommonly  bold 
and  persevering. 

On  the  death  of  the  eloquent  and  learned  Dr. 
Bates,  at  Hackney,  one  of  the  suburbs  of  the  me- 
tropolis, he  was  solicited  to  accept  the  pastorate  of 
the  bereaved  church  and  congregation;  and,  the 
better  to  insure  success,  the  communication  was 
made  to  him  through  his  beloved  friend,  the  Rev. 
John  Shower,  pastor  of  a  church  at  the  Old  Jewry. 
It  failed,  however,  of  success.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  particularize  other  similar  invitations  both  from 


120 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


London  and  important  places  in  the  country.  Dr 
Bates  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Bilho. 
Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  BiUio,  which  occurred  in 
May,  IVIO,  the  sohcitations  of  the  congregation  to 
Mr.  Henry  were  renewed  with  increased  importu- 
nity. Two  visits  were  subsequently  made  by  him 
to  the  destitute  church,  and,  after  long- continued 
and  serious  thought,  not  to  say  the  most  distress- 
ing varieties  of  mental  conflict,  he  determined  to 
leave  Chester.  The  history  and  reasons  of  a  deter- 
mination so  opposite  to  every  former  decision,  may 
be  stated  somewhat  at  length,  and  may  happily  be 
stated  in  his  own  words,  written  whilst  in  London, 
on  one  of  the  two  visits  before  mentioned. 

"About  midsummer,  1710,  I  had  a  letter  from 
the  congregation  at  Hackney,  signifying  to  me  that 
they  had  unanimously  chosen  me  to  be  their  minis- 
ter, in  the  room  of  Mr.  Billio,  who  was  lately  de- 
ceased of  the  small-pox ;  and  to  desire  that  I  would 
accept  of  their  invitation ;  in  prosecution  of  which, 
they  told  me  I  should  find  them  as  the  importunate 
widow,  that  would  have  no  nay.  I  several  times 
denied  them ;  at  length  they  wrote  to  me  that  some 
of  them  would  come  down  hither ;  to  prevent  which, 
I  being  not  unwilling  to  take  a  London  journey  in 
the  interval  between  my  third  and  fourth  volume," 
of  the  Exposition,  "  I  wrote  them  word  I  would 
come  up  to  them,  and  did  so  in  the  middle  of  July ; 
but  was  down  again  before  the  first  Lord's  day  in 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


121 


August ;  then  I  laid  myself  open  to  the  temptation, 
by  increasing  my  acquaintance  in  the  city. 

They  followed  me  after  I  came  down,  with  let- 
ters to  me,  and  to  the  congregation ;  in  October  I 
wrote  to  them,  that  if  they  would  stay  for  me  till 
next  spring — which  I  was  in  hopes  they  would  not 
do — I  would  come  up,  and  make  a  longer  stay  for 
mutual  trial ;  they  wrote  to  me  they  would  wait  till 
then. 

'*In  May,  1711,  I  went  to  them,  and  stayed  till 
the  end  of  July,  and  before  I  parted  with  them, 
signified  to  them  my  acceptance  of  their  invitation, 
and  my  purpose  to  come  to  them,  God  willing,  the 
following  spring.  The  ministers  there  had  many 
of  them  given  it  under  their  hands,  that  they  thought 
it  advisable,  and  for  greater  good,  and  a  more 
extensive  usefulness,  that  I  should  remove  to  Hack- 
ney. 

"However,  I  was  determined  to  deny  them  at 
Hackney,  and  had  denied  them,  but  that  Mr.  Gun- 
ston,  Mr.  Smith,  and  some  others,  came  to  me  from 
London,  and  begged  of  me,  for  the  sake  of  the  pub- 
lic, that  I  would  not  deny  them;  which  was  the 
thing  that  turned  the  scales.  I  never  had  been,  till 
this  journey,  so  much  as  one  first  Lord's  day  of  the 
month  out  of  Chester,  since  I  came  to  it  twenty-four 
years  ago. 

"  By  this  determination  I  brought  on  myself  more 
grief,  and  care,  and  concern,  than  I  could  have 


122 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


imagined,  and  have  many  a  time  wished  it  undone 
again ;  but  having  opened  my  mouth,  I  could  not 
go  back.  I  did  with  the  utmost  impartiahty,  if  I 
know  any  thing  of  myself,  beg  of  God  to  incline  my 
heart  that  way  which  should  be  most  for  his  glory ; 
and  I  trust  I  have  a  good  conscience,  willing  to  be 
found  in  the  way  of  my  duty.  Wherein  I  have 
done  amiss,  the  Lord  forgive  me  for  Jesus'  sake, 
and  make  this  change  concerning  the  congregation 
to  work  for  good  to  it. 

"  Having  this  morning — as  often,  very  often  be- 
fore— begged  of  God  to  give  me  wisdom,  sincerity, 
and  humility,  and  to  direct  my  thoughts  and  coun- 
sels, now  this  important  affair  must  at  last  be  de- 
termined, I  think  it  meet,  having  before  set  down 
the  reasons  for  my  continuing  at  Chester,  now  to 
set  down  the  reasons  which  may  induce  me  to 
accept  of  this  invitation  to  Hackney,  that  it  may 
be  a  satisfaction  to  me  afterwards  to  review  upon 
what  grounds  I  went,  and  may  be  a  testimony  for 
me  that  I  did  not  do  it  rashly. 

I  am  abundantly  satisfied  that  it  is  lawful 
for  ministers  to  remove,  and  in  many  cases  highly 
expedient,  and  necessary  to  the  edifying  of  the 
church ;  and  this  not  only  for  the  avoiding  of  evil, 
as  in  the  case  of  persecution,  which  can  be  a  reason 
no  longer  than  while  the  persecution  lasts,  or  of  the 
uncomfortable  disposition  of  the  people,  but  for  the 
attaining  of  a  greater  good,  and  the  putting  of  a 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


123 


minister  into  a  larger  sphere  of  usefulness  ;  this  has 
always  been  my  judgment  according  to  the  word  of 
God,  and  I  have  practised  accordingly,  in  being 
often  active  in  the  removal  of  other  ministers,  which 
I  have  afterwards  had  satisfaction  in.  And  this  has 
been  the  judgment  of  the  congregation  at  Chester, 
between  whom  and  their  ministers  there  have  never 
been  those  solemn  mutual  engagements  that  have 
been  between  some  other  ministers  and  their  con- 
gregations, nor  any  bond  but  that  of  love. 

"2.  My  invitation  to  Hackney  is  not  only  unan- 
imous, but  very  pressing  and  importunate,  and  the 
people  here,  in  waiting  so  long  for  my  determina- 
tion, and  in  the  great  affection  and  respect  they 
have  showed  to  my  ministry  since  I  came  among 
them,  have  given  the  most  satisfying  proof  of  the 
sincerity  and  zeal  of  their  invitation  ;  and  upon  many 
weeks'  trial  I  do  not  perceive  any  thing  in  the  con- 
gregation that  is  discouraging,  but  every  thing  that 
promiseth  to  make  a  minister's  life  both  comfortable 
and  useful. 

"  3.  There  seems  to  be  something  of  an  intima- 
tion of  Providence  in  the  many  calls  I  have  had  in 
this  way  before,  and  particularly  to  this  place  upon 
the  death  of  Dr.  Bates,  though  I  never,  either  di- 
rectly or  indirectly,  sought  them,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, did  what  I  could  to  prevent  them,  and  this 
particularly. 

"4.  There  is  manifestly  a  much  wider  door  of 


124 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


opportunity  to  do  good,  opened  to  me  here  at  Lon- 
don, than  at  Chester,  in  respect  to  the  frequency 
and  variety  of  week-day  occasions  of  preaching,  and 
the  great  numbers  of  the  auditors ;  the  prospect  I 
have  of  improving  these  opportunities,  and  of  doing 
good  to  souls  thereby,  is,  I  confess,  the  main  induce- 
ment to  me  to  think  of  removing  hither ;  and  what 
I  have  seen  while  I  have  been  here  now,  has  very 
much  encouraged  my  expectations  of  that  kind. 

5.  In  drawing  up  and  publishing  my  Exposi- 
tions, and  many  other  of  my  endeavors  for  the 
public  service,  I  foresee  it  will  be  a  great  conven- 
ience to  me  to  be  near  the  press,  and  to  have  the 
inspection  of  it,  and  also  to  have  books  at  hand  that 
I  may  have  occasion  for  in  the  prosecution  of  my 
studies,  and  learned  men  to  converse  with  for  my 
own  improvement  in  knowledge,  and  to  consult 
with  upon  any  difficulty  that  may  occur. 

"6.1  have  followed  Providence  in  this  affair,  and 
to  the  conduct  of  that,  I  have,  if  I  know  my  own 
heart,  in  sincerity  referred  myself,  hoping  and  pray- 
ing, both  myself,  and  my  friends  for  me,  that  God 
would  guide  me  with  his  eye,  and  lead  me  in  a  plain 
path.  When  I  was  purposing  to  send  a  final  denial. 
Providence  so  ordered  it  that  the  very  post  before, 
I  had  a  letter  subscribed  by  divers  of  the  London 
ministers,  persuading  me  to  accept  that  call ;  where- 
upon I  wrote  to  them  that  I  would  come  to  them 
six  months  upon  trial,  thinking  that  they  would  not 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY.  125 

have  consented  to  be  kept  so  long  in  suspense,  but 
it  proved  that  they  did ;  and  so  I  have  been  drawn 
step  by  step  to  this  resolution,  and  though  I  have 
industriously  sought,  I  have  not  found  any  thing  on 
this  side  to  break  the  treaty. 

"  7.  I  have  asked  the  advice  of  ministers  upon  a 
fair  representation  of  the  case,  which  I  drew  up ; 
and  many,  upon  consideration  of  it,  have  given  it 
under  their  hands  that  they  think  it  advisable  for 
me  to  remove,  and  none  of  them  have  advised  me 
to  the  contrary,  but  have  told  me  I  am  myself  the 
most  proper  judge  of  it.  Many  private  Christians 
also  in  London,  and  some  that  seem  to  me  to  be  the 
most  judicious  and  public-spirited,  have  by  letters, 
when  I  was  in  Chester,  and  by  word  of  mouth  here, 
persuaded  me  to  accept  of  this  call,  as  judging  that, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  might  be  useful  here  to 
such  a  degree  as  to  balance  the  inconveniency  of 
my  leaving  Chester  ;  nay,  that  even  here,  I  might, 
in  many  respects,  be  serviceable  to  the  country. 

"  8.  I  have  some  reason  to  hope  that  my  poor 
endeavors  in  the  ministry  may,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  be  more  useful  now  to  those  to  whom  they  are 
new,  than  to  those  who  have  been  so  long  used  to 
them,  and  so  constantly ;  with  whom  also  I  trust 
another  hand  may  do  more  good,  as  mine  did,  by 
the  grace  of  God,  in  the  first  seven  years  of  my 
being  there.  And  I  have  known  many  congrega- 
tions from  whom  ministers  have  removed,  and  those 


126 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


to  whom  it  caused  the  greatest  uneasiness  and  dis- 
content for  the  present,  which  yet  have  afterwards 
been  so  well  settled  beyond  their  own  expectations 
under  other  ministers,  that  they  have  flourished  even 
more  than  ever  they  had  done  before. 

*'  9.  Though  the  people  at  Chester  are  a  most 
loving  people,  and  many  of  them  have  had,  and 
have,  an  exceeding  value  for  me  and  my  ministry, 
yet  I  have  not  been  without  my  discouragements 
there,  and  those  such  as  have  tempted  me  to  think 
that  my  work  in  that  place  has  been  in  a  great  meas- 
ure done ;  many  that  have  been  catechized  with  us, 
and  many  that  have  been  long  communicants  with 
us,  have  left  us,  and  very  few  have  been  added 
to  us. 

**  10.  Whereas  I  have  been  thought  to  have  been 
useful  in  the  country  by  my  preaching,  as  God  has 
enabled  me  in  many  places  about,  I  have  now  reason 
to  think,  that  though  I  should  continue  at  Chester, 
I  should  be  quite  taken  off  from  that  part  of  my 
work,  having  found  as  I  came  up,  and  once  before, 
that  riding  long  journeys  and  preaching  brought  an 
illness  upon  me  which  I  was  never  till  the  last  win- 
ter visited  with,  so  that  my  service  would  be  wholly 
confined  within  the  walls  of  Chester ;  whereas  here, 
by  divine  assistance,  I  might  do  a  great  deal  of  work 
of  that  kind  without  that  toil  and  peril. 

"11.  The  congregation  at  Chester,  though  it  can- 
not be  expected  they  should  consent  to  part  with  a 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


127 


minister  they  have  so  long  had  a  satisfaction  in,  yet 
they  have  been  pleased,  under  their  hands,  to  leave 
it  to  my  own  conscience  and  affection.  Now,  as  to 
my  own  conscience,  upon  a  long  and  serious  consid- 
eration of  the  matter — and  if  I  know  my  own  heart 
an  impartial  one — and  after  many  prayers  to  God 
for  direction,  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  I  may  lawfully 
remove,  and  that  there  is  a  prospect  of  my  being 
more  useful  if  I  do  remove,  and  therefore  it  is  expe- 
dient that  I  should ;  and  as  to  my  affections,  though 
they  are  very  strong  towards  Chester,  yet  I  think 
they  ought  to  be  overruled  by  my  judgment." 

Another  anniversary  of  his  birthday  now  arrived, 
but  the  record  makes  no  allusion  to  the  situation  in 
which  he  had  placed  himself.  His  mind  seems  to 
have  been  absorbed  by  the  flight  of  time,  and  the 
nearer  approach  of  eternity. 

''October  18,  I  have  now  finished  my 

seventh  climacteric  year,  in  which  I  have  first  felt 
the  pain  of  the  gravel  and  the  stone,  by  which  it  is 
easy  for  me  to  discern  that  death  is  working  in  my 
body ;  for  this  disease  is  death  begun ;  perhaps  in  a 
little  time  it  will  be  death  itself.  I  now  enter  upon 
the  jubilee  of  my  life,  my  fiftieth  year;  the  term  of 
hfe  approaches ;  may  I  be  better  fitted  for  eternal 
life." 

The  preceding  exercises  of  mind,  in  reference  to 
his  removal  from  Chester,  after  a  ministry  there  of 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  show  most  conclu- 


128 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


sively  the  integrity  of  Mr.  Henry's  mind,  and  his 
trembhng  solicitude  to  be  found  in  the  way  of  duty. 
In  his  first  entrance  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
he  dreaded  the  thought  of  running  before  he  was 
sent ;  and  now,  in  the  affair  of  his  removal,  he  felt 
it  to  be  a  weighty  and  important  step,  to  be  deter- 
mined only  by  plain  intimations  of  Providence,  and 
after  much  anxious  deliberation  and  feryent  prayer. 
Both  churches  and  ministers  of  the  present  day, 
may  learn  valuable  lessons  of  prudence  and  piety 
from  this  part  of  the  commentator's  history. 

Notwithstanding  the  clearness  of  the  case,  in  his 
call  to  remove,  and  the  length  of  time  which  he 
took  to  make  up  his  mind  on  the  important  step  of 
leaving  one  field  of  labor  and  entering  upon  another, 
yet  it  appears  his  mind  was  ill  at  ease,  from  the 
godly  fear  that  he  might  possibly  have  taken  a 
wrong  step.  When  he  reached  his  new  abode,  he 
vented  the  anguish  of  his  mind  in  sighs  like  these, 
"  Lord,  am  I  in  the  way  ?  I  look  back  with  sorrow 
for  leaving  Chester ;  I  look  forward  with  fear ;  but 
unto  thee  I  look  up." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


129 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Some  account  of  the  manner  in  which  Mr.  Henry  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  ministry  at  Chester. 

Mr,  Henry's  history  having  been  traced  to  the 
important  period  when  he  left  Chester,  the  present 
chapter  will  be  devoted  to  a  review  of  his  ministe- 
rial course  during  his  abode  in  that  city.  Much 
instruction  may  be  thus  derived  from  an  exhibition 
of  his  exemplary  conduct,  and  of  the  truly  Christian 
spirit  which  he  uniformly  displayed.  By  taking 
such  a  review  it  will  be  sufficiently  apparent  why  it 
was  that  so  much  earnest  desire  prevailed  in  other 
churches,  and  among  not  a  few  of  his  more  distin- 
guished brethren,  to  secure  his  services  in  a  wider 
and  more  invitin(y  field  of  labor  than  that  which  he 

o 

had  occupied. 

On  the  Sabbath,  Mr.  Henry  met  hi§  congregation 
at  nine  o'clock,  and  commenced  the  services  by  sing- 
ing the  100th  Psalm.  Praise  was  succeeded,  for  a 
few  minutes,  by  prayer ;  he  then  read  and  expounded 
part  of  the  Old  Testament,  proceeding  regularly 
from  the  book  of  Genesis,  After  singing  another 
psalm,  about  half  an  hour  was  devoted  to  interces- 
sion ;  the  sermon  followed,  and  usually  occupied 
about  an  hour  ;  he  again  prayed,  and  after  singing, 
commonly  the  11 7th  Psalm,  the  benediction  was 

Matthaw  Heary.  ^ 


130 


MEMOIR  OF  TIIi: 


pronounced.  The  same  order  was  observed  in  the 
afternoon,  only  he  then  expounded,  with  the  same 
regularity,  a  part  of  the  New  Testament,  and,  at 
the  close  of  the  worship,  sung  either  the  134th,  or 
some  part  of  the  136th  Psalm. 

In  Mr.  Henry's  day,  the  church  had  not  yet  been 
blessed  with  the  sweet,  devotional,  poetic  effusions 
of  Dr.  Watts,  whose  "psalms  and  hymns  and  spirit- 
ual songs"  have  eminently  "made  glad  the  city  of 
our  God  ;"  and  have  given  rise  to  numerous  other 
similar  productions.  To  supply  the  deficiency  which 
was  then  felt,  Mr.  Henry  made  some  attempts  to 
compile  and  arrange  a  small  collection  of  psalms 
and  sacred  hymns  in  verse,  as  may  be  seen  by  a 
reference  to  his  Miscellaneous  Works. 

In  the  exercise  of  praise  he  greatly  delighted ; 
for  it  was  beautifully  suited  to  his  lively  and  thank- 
ful temper.  When  young,  he  had  heard  his  excel- 
lent father  say,  that  "  Our  praying-days  should  be 
praising-days ;  that  whatever  the  cup  is,  we  should 
take  notice  of  the  mixtures  and  he  never  forgot  it. 
He  sometimes  devoutly  observed,  that  "  A  life  of 
praise  and  a  life  of  usefulness  is  a  true  angelical 
life." 

In  the  exercise  of  public  and  social  prayer,  Mr. 
Henry  was  almost  unrivalled.  In  his  addresses  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  there  was  no  pompous  finery ; 
no  abstruse  and  complex  elaboration ;  no  disgusting 
familiarity ;  no  personal  reproofs  or  compliments ; 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRV. 


131 


no  vain  repetitions ;  no  preaching.  When  he  pro- 
fessed to  pray,  he  prayed  ;  and  his  style  was  rever- 
ent, humble,  simple,  and  devout.  By  impressive 
comprehensiveness,  by  the  happiest  adaptation  of 
his  petitions  to  circumstances,  and  by  peculiar  fer- 
vency of  manner,  he  successfully  interested  and  stim- 
ulated his  fellow-worshippers.  His  habits  evinced 
the  truth  of  his  recorded  experience,  that  "  warm 
devotions  contribute  much  to  communion  with  God.'* 
With  regard  to  devotion,  he  sometimes  said,  "We 
should  be  in  it  as  the  angels,  who  are  seraphim — 
burners ;"  and  his  own  example  beautified  and  con- 
firmed the  observation. 

In  supplication  for  mercy,  Mr.  Henry  was  very 
earnest  and  particular — pleading  the  name,  and  suf- 
ferings, and  mediation  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  for 
pardon  and  peace.  He  was  large  and  full  in  pray- 
ing for  grace,  and  used  to  mention  the  particular 
graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  faith,  love,  hope,  pa- 
tience, zeal,  delight  in  God  ;  earnestly  begging  that 
these  might  be  truly  wrought  in  all,  and  might  be 
preserved,  exercised,  increased,  and  evidenced  to 
the  divine  glory. 

Some  Christians  are  unfavorable  to  the  use  of  the 
Lord's  prayer.  They  imagine  it  to  have  been  taught 
the  disciples  as  members  of  the  Jewish  church,  and 
adapted  only  to  the  time  of  waiting  for  Messiah's 
kingdom.  Others  advocate  its  adoption  in  secret 
only,  founding  their  opinion  upon  the  command, 


132 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


**When  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet."  But 
Mr.  Henr}^  like  his  venerable  progenitor,  approved 
and  used  it,  as  a  proper  form,  as  well  in  public  as 
in  private.  Yet  by  so  doing  he  incurred  censure. 
**I  wrote,"  he  says,  "to  Mr.  Farrington,  why  he 
should  not  be  offended  at  my  using  the  Lord's 
prayer."  Even  men  of  sense  and  piety,  in  zeal  for 
a  particular  opinion,  may  be  lamentably  deficient  in 
Christian  charity. 

In  Mr.  Henry's  public  services  on  the  Sabbath, 
the  ancient  and  invaluable  custom  of  expounding 
the  holy  Scripture  was  uniformly  practised  ;  and 
during  his  residence  at  Chester,  he  explained  to  his 
congregation  more  than  once,  the  whole  of  the  sa- 
cred oracles.  By  this  means  his  people  were  re- 
markable for  their  scriptural  knowledge. 

It  contributed  to  Mr.  Henry's  ministerial  profi- 
ciency, that  the  thoughts  which  he  cherished  of  the 
great  work  to  which  he  was  devoted,  were  just  and 
elevated ;  and  therefore,  in  some  degree  at  least,  pro- 
portioned to  its  magnitude.  It  was  never,  through 
his  instrumentality,  degraded  by  any  unhallowed 
associations,  either  of  worldly  emolument  or  mere 
external  respectability,  still  less  of  ease  and  sloth. 
Keeping  the  design  of  the  institution  continually  in 
view,  he  magnified  his  office ;  and  steadily  seeking 
the  edification  and  increase  of  the  church  of  Christ, 
he  earnestly  and  perseveringly  coveted  the  best  gifts. 
When  reviewing  a  sacramental  opportunity,  he  says, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


13? 


*'  I  endeavored  to  wrestle  this  day  with  God  in  se- 
cret and  at  his  table  for  two  things,  (and  0  that  I 
might  prevail !)  the  heart  of  the  upright,  and  the 
tonorue  of  the  learned."  And  on  another  occasion, 
he  said,  "  I  would  excel  in  my  work." 

The  sincerity  of  these,  his  recorded  desires,  was 
happily  demonstrated  by  unremitting  preparation  for 
the  pulpit.  To  that  leading  object  every  other  was 
subordinate.  All  he  read,  and  all  he  saw,  as  well 
as  the  things  which  he  heard,  were  regarded  by  him 
with  more  or  less  attention,  as  they  bore  upon  that. 
Nothing  crude  or  undigested  found  its  way,  through 
his  instrumentality,  into  the  solemn  assembly. 

Upon  the  Scriptures  he  bestowed  his  chief  and 
profoundest  attention.  He  studied  his  sermons  with 
vast  diligence  and  care,  and  wrote  them  at  consid- 
erable length.  Some  advices,  yet  extant,  addressed 
to  ministers,  well  exemplify  this  part  of  his  charac- 
ter ;  and,  by  the  absence  of  any  mention  of  writing, 
they  show  a  happy  freedom  from  dogmatism  and 
intrusiveness,  as  to  his  own  particular  modes.  He 
wisely  judged  that  matters  of  mere  convenience  or 
taste  are  best  left  to  the  discretion  and  habits  of 
mankind.  If  sermons  were  well  studied,  he  did  not 
consider  it  important  whether  the  process  was  car- 
ried on  with  a  pen  or  without  one ;  in  the  closet,  or 
garden,  or  fields,  or  elsewhere. 

He  would  say  to  ministers,  "  Take  heed  of  grow- 
ing remiss  in  your  work.    Take  pains  while  you  live. 


134 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Think  not  that,  after  a  while,  you  may  relax  and  gc 
over  your  old  stock.  The  Scriptures  still  aflford  new 
things,  to  those  who  search  them.  Continue  search- 
ing. How  can  you  expect  God's  blessing,  or  your 
people's  observance,  if  you  are  careless  ?  Be  stu- 
dious not  to  offer  that  which  costs  nothing.  Take 
pains,  that  you  may  find  out  acceptable  words.  Let 
all  your  performances  smell  of  the  lamp.  This  will 
engage  the  attention  of  your  people.  Feed  the 
church  of  God  which  is  among  you.  Feed  the  ig- 
norant with  knowledge,  the  careless  with  admonition, 
the  wanderinor  with  direction,  and  the  mourninor  with 
comfort." 

Xo  odd  or  affected  tones,  or  any  violent  and  un- 
seemly agitations,  cast  over  Mr.  Henry's  pulpit  efforts 
the  least  deteriorating  shade.  Like  Bishop  Earle's 
"  Grave  Divine,"  he  beat  upon  his  text,  not  upon  the 
cushion.  In  addition  to  a  fascinating  manner,  his  ex- 
cursive and  vigorous  imagination  furnished  such  a  fund 
of  ingenious  biblical  illustration,  as  to  place  divine 
truth  in  a  vivid  and  striking  light,  and  himself  upon 
the  pinnacle  of  popularity.  In  his  younger  years 
the  veheraency  of  his  affections,  both  in  prayer  and 
preaching,  was  such  as  frequently  melted  himself 
and  his  auditors  into  tears.  On  one  occasion  he 
said,  "  You  think  we  are  too  earnest  with  you  to 
leave  your  sins  and  accept  of  Christ ;  but  when  you 
come  to  die  you  will  see  the  meaning  of  it.  We  see 
death  at  vour  backs." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


135 


In  subsequent  years,  if  Mr.  Henry  became  more 
temperate,  he  did  not  either  chill  or  freeze.  His 
feelings  and  earnestness  were,  perhaps,  better  regu- 
lated, but  they  were  not  destroyed.  In  his  diary 
for  September  10,  1699,  when  in  his  thirty-eighth 
year,  he  thus  writes:  "I  preached  of  God  the  chief 
good,  from  Psal.  73  :  25,  '  Whom  have  I  in  heaven 
but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  de- 
sire beside  thee.'  I  had  some  enlargement  of  af- 
fections, and  I  find  some  prejudice  to  my  bodily 
strength  by  my  overearnestness,  but  I  cannot  help 
it ;  for  I  believe  the  things  I  speak  to  be  true  and 
great,  and  I  would  be  in  my  work  as  one  in  earnest.'* 
And  this  fervent  manner  of  preaching  he  sustained 
to  the  end  of  life. 

He  was  also  remarkable  for  variety  in  his  minis- 
trations. Loving  to  give  Scripture  its  full  latitude, 
he  took  a  wide  range,  and  studiously  presented  re- 
ligious truth  in  its  connections  and  its  tendencies. 
He  ever  listened  to  the  "voice  which  speaketh  from 
heaven  " — whether  addressed  by  the  visible  creation, 
the  beauties  of  natural  scenery,  the  discoveries  of 
science,  the  thunders  and  lightnings  of  Mount  Sinai, 
or  that  overwhelming  exhibition  of  mercy  which 
proclaims  to  apostate  and  perishing  transgressors  the 
"redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus" — and  thus  his 
views  became  large  and  comprehensive. 

It  was  the  practice  of  many  "  ancient  worthies,'* 
after  having  chosen  a  subject  for  the  pulpit,  to  pur- 


136 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


sue  it,  week  after  week,  from  the  same  text.  But 
Mr.  Henry  preferred  emplo}'ing  different  texts  for 
the  discussion  of  even  the  same  general  truth ;  an 
improvement  well  adapted  to  reheve  both  preachers 
and  hearers  from  that  wearisomeness  which  is  in- 
separable from  continued  iteration. 

And,  as  no  other  theme  can  excite  devotional 
ardor  so  powerfully  as  a  vivid  impression  of  this  one 
grand  truth,  that  Christ  was  "  delivered  for  our  of- 
fences, and  was  raised  again  for  our  justification,"  it 
can  be  no  matter  of  surprise  that  to  ^Ir.  Henry  it 
was  most  pleasant  to  be  preaching  Christ,  and  that 
when  he  was  so  engaged,  to  borrow  his  own  phrase, 
he  was  "most  in  his  element."  Well  did  he  ob- 
serve, when  expatiating  upon  the  subject,  that,  al- 
though **  the  Scriptures  are  the  circumference  of 
faith,  the  rounds  of  which  it  walks,  and  every  point 
of  which  compass  it  toucheth,  yet  the  centre  of  it  is 
Christ.    That  is  the  polar  star  on  which  it  resteth.'" 

Next  to  the  pattern  exhibited  at  Broad  Oak, 
probably  nothing  served  more  to  increase  his  at- 
tachment to  this  style  of  preaching,  or  more  con- 
duced to  his  distinction  and  usefulness  in  the  church, 
than  his  intimacy  with  the  Rev.  Francis  Tailents. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Tailents  has  already  been  men- 
tioned ;  it  is  well  known ;  and  of  him  it  is  not  too 
much  to  affirm,  that  he  was  equally  eminent  for  his 
learning,  his  wisdom,  his  moderation,  and  his  piety. 
To  the  youthful  prophets  around  him  he  was  a  father. 


REV,  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


137 


Though  far  advanced  in  years,  he  cultivated  their 
friendship,  accurately  observed  their  public  per- 
formances, discovered  a  lively  interest  in  their  re- 
spectabiHty  and  success,  and,  mingling  with  counsels 
and  rebukes  the  most  affectionate  kindness,  he  se- 
cured their  attention  and  esteem. 

The  nature  and  effects  of  that  intercourse  are  well 
evinced  in  the  two  following  letters,  which  were 
both  addressed  to  Mr.  Tallents  by  Mr.  Henry.  It 
is  not  easy  to  decide  upon  which  party  they  confer 
most  honor. 

"  July  21,  1694. 

"  Dear  and  honored  Sir — I  am  greatly  obliged 
to  you,  not  only  for  your  very  quickening  words 
when  I  was  with  you,  but  for  your  very  quickening 
lines  which  you  sent  after  me.  I  reckon,  Avhen  I 
come  to  Salop,  it  is,  as  the  old  Puritans  went  to 
Dedham,"^  to  fetch  fire.  I  desire  to  bless  my  God 
for  any  influences  of  grace  and  comfort  which  I  have 
often  experienced  through  you,  and  I  am  ashamed 
that  the  impressions  thereof  have  been  no  more 
strong  and  lasting.  I  thank  you  for  the  hint  you 
give  me  to  speak  more  of  the  doctrine  of  God's 
election,  and  free  grace,  which  I  shall  endeavor  to 
observe.  It  refresheth  me  to  think  that  there  are 
any  of  those  whom  I  am  called  to  speak  to  in  God's 
name,  whom  I  trust  the  Lord  hath  '  loved  with  an 
*  Dedham  was  the  residence  of  the  celebrated  Rev.  John 
Rogers,  the  ancestor  of  some  of  the  earliest  Puritan  fathers 
of  America. 


138 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


everlasting  love ;'  and  though  there  are  so  many 
"who  do  not  believe  our  report,  yet  there  are  some  to 
whom  'the  arm  of  the  Lord'  shall  be  more  and 
more  'revealed.'  By  an  eflfectual  choice  he  hath 
wonderfully  and  graciously  secured  the  glory  of  his 
Son ;  the  happiness  of  a  remnant  of  his  creatures  ; 
and,  in  subordination  to  these,  the  comfort  of  his 
poor  ministers.  In  my  Master's  work  I  am  but  of 
yesterday,  yet  I  find  that  there  is  not  now  that  en- 
couraging success  which  there  was  at  the  first  open- 
ing of  the  present  door  of  opportunity,  which  makes 
me  ready  to  ask  sometimes,  '  Is  the  Lord  among  us, 
or  is  he  not  ?'  But  surely  he  is,  and  in  more  ways 
than  one  is  doing  his  own  work.  I  have  read  with 
satisfaction  what  you  direct  me  to  in  Turretine,  and 
return  you  many  thanks  for  your  hint  in  that  mat- 
ter. I  beg  your  prayers  for  me,  that  the  Lord,  when 
I  preach,  will  lead  me  into  the  mystery  of  the  riches 
of  free  grace  for  conviction  and  direction.  I  en- 
deavor to  do  it  as  a  means  by  which  free  grace 
usually  works  its  own  work ;  but  I  desire  to  wind 
up  all  in  the  glory  of  God :  *  not  unto  us,  0  Lord, 
not  unto  us,  but  to  thy  name  be  the  glory.'  I 
beg  the  continuance  of  your  prayers,  and  when  you 
can  spare  a  httle  time,  a  line  or  two  from  you  will 
be  verv  much  a  refreshment  to  your  most  affection- 
ate and  obedient 

"  Son  in  the  Lord, 

"  Matthew  HE>Tiy." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


139 


"Broad  Oak,  Oct.  29,  1G95. 

"Bear  and  honored  Sir — I  desire  to  be  thank- 
ful to  God  for  your  love  to  me,  and  your  kind  let- 
ters. Yours,  which  I  met  with  here  at  Broad  Oak, 
hath  in  it  very  quickening  and  refreshing  memoran- 
da of  our  dear  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  whom  we  should 
think  more  of,  and  live  more  upon,  did  we  remember 
that  he  is  the  head  of  our  religion.  I  have  found 
comfort  and  satisfaction  in  preaching  some  sermons 
lately,  though  in  much  weakness,  concerning  the 
mediation  of  Jesus  Christ,  *the  new  and  living  Way,' 
through  which  we  *  enter  into  the  holiest,'  and  heav- 
en is  made  familiar  to  us.  I  desire  that  when  you 
put  up  a  petition  for  me,  it  may  be  this — that  I  may 
be  a  true  minister  of  Jesus  Christ ;  not  only  ap- 
pointed by  him,  but  affected  with  his  love  ;  acquaint- 
ed with  the  mystery  of  it ;  and  an  instrument  to 
bring  others  acquainted  with  it,  etc.,  etc.  *  I  rest 
your  obedient  son  in  the  common  faith. 

"  Mat.  Henry." 

In  the  prosecution  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Henry 
made  no  attempt  to  conceal  or  palliate  the  guilt  and 
extent  of  human  depravity ;  nor  to  disprove  or  ex- 
plain away  the  necessity  of  divine  influence  in  saving 
sinners ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  labored  to  confirm 
those  fundamental  truths,  and  to  lay  open  the  se- 
crets of  the  heart,  in  order  that  his  hearers  might 
be  convinced  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judg- 


140 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


ment.  He  then  invariably  conducted  them  to  Cal- 
vary. There  he  delighted  to  linger,  urging  them 
individually  to  behold  the  Lamb  of  God.  And  so 
unanswerably  did  he  press  the  obligations  of  sinners 
to  believe,  as  to  leave  all  who  remained  obstinate 
and  impenitent  without  excuse.  "  I  do  not  stand 
here,"  he  would  say,  "  to  mock  you  with  an  uncer- 
tainty, or  to  trifle  with  you  about  an  indifferent 
thing ;  but  in  the  name  of  Christ,  my  Master,  to 
make  a  serious  offer  to  you  of  life  and  salvation, 
upon  the  terms  of  faith  and  repentance." 

And  upon  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  he  urged 
the  pursuit  of  a  similar  course.  **  Let  Jesus  Christ," 
said  he,  be  all  in  all.  Study  Christ :  preach 
Christ :  live  Christ."  Both  by  his  advice  and  ex- 
ample he  recommended  that  uniform  regard  to  sim- 
plicity and  plainness  of  speech,  which  constitutes 
one  of  the  main  excellencies  of  a  public  instructor. 
He  would  say  to  his  ministerial  brethren,  "Let  your 
performances  be  plain  and  scriptural.  Choose  for 
your  pulpit  subjects  the  plainest  and  most  needful 
truths,  and  endeavor  to  make  them  plainer.  Be 
serious  in  the  delivery.  Affect  not  fine  words,  but 
words  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teaches ;  that  is,  sound 
speech  which  cannot  be  condemned.  Enticing  words 
of  man's  wisdom  debase  your  matter.  Gold  needs 
not  to  be  painted.  Scripture  expressions  are  what 
people  are  used  to,  and  will  remember.  Consider 
the  lambs  of  the  flock.    You  must  take  them  along 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


141 


with  you.  Do  not  overdrive  them,  by  being  over- 
long,  or  overfine." 

Some  divines  have  been  designated  "  fugitive," 
because  they  run  away  from  their  text;  but  Mr. 
Henry  adhered,  with  admirable  closeness,  to  the^ 
passage  which  he  professed  to  explain  ;  yet  neither 
pressing  into  its  service  foreign  or  irrelevant  truths, 
and  still  less  far-fetched  inventions,  nor  evading  any 
topic  to  which  he  was  naturally  led.  Although, 
after  years  of  ministerial  service,  he  could  say  to  his 
assembled  congregation,  "That  which  I  have  mainly 
insisted  upon  is  turning  to  God,  and  walking  with 
God;"  still,  in  connection  with  this  solemn  appeal, 
he  could  also  affirm,  that  he  had  not  shunned  to  de- 
clare unto  them  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  Wher- 
ever his  text  directed  him,  in  that  path  he  walked, 
unshackled  by  human  authority,  and  fearless  of  con- 
sequences. 

When  urging  his  hearers  to  the  performance  of 
Christian  duties,  he  endeavored  to  furnish  the  neces- 
sary rules  and  directions  in  the  express  words  of 
Scripture.  But  important  truths  he  often  illustrated 
by  scriptural  allusions.  An  instance  will  be  given 
in  his  own  language.  After  exposing  the  nature 
and  evils  of  carnal  security,  he  thus  pointed  out  its 
danger.  "We  are  in  danger  by  it  of  having  our 
hair  cut ;  that  is,  of  losing  our  strength,  as  Samson 
when  he  slept  upon  Delilah's  lap.  Security  is  weak- 
ening ;  it  Aveakens  our  resistance  of  temptation,  and 


142 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


our  performance  of  duty.  We  are  in  danger  by  it 
of  having  tares  sown  in  our  hearts,  as  they  were  in 
the  cornfield  while  men  slept.  Corruptions  prevail 
and  get  head  while  w^e  are  secure,  and  off  our 
^atch.  We  are  in  danger  by  it  of  being  robbed  of 
our  spear  and  cruse  of  water,  as  Saul  w^as  when  he 
slept.  When  secure  we  lose  our  defence,  and  our 
comfort,  and  so  He  exposed  and  disquieted.  We 
are  in  danger  by  it  of  being  nailed  to  the  earth,  as 
Sisera  was  when  he  slept  in  Jael's  tent :  of  minding 
earthly  things  ;  of  having  head  and  heart  fixed  to 
this  world.  The  rich  fool  was  thus  nailed  to  the 
earth,  and  he  counted  upon  goods  laid  up  for  many 
years.  We  can  never  reach  heaven  while  we  are 
fastened  to  the  earth.  We  are  in  danger  by  it  of 
being  given  up  to  sleep,  as  the  disciples  were  in  the 
garden.  '  Sleep  on  now.'  It  is  a  dismal  thing  to 
be  let  alone  in  carnal  security.  We  are  in  danger 
of  sinking  into  destruction.  Jonah  was,  when  he 
slept  in  the  storm.  Security  has  slain  its  ten  thou- 
sands, who  have  gone  sleeping  to  hell.  And  w^hat 
is  hell,  but  to  lie  for  ever  under  the  power  of  that 
soul-sinking  Avord,  '  Depart  from  me,'  with  a  gulf 
fixed  to  cut  off  all  access  ?" 

To  render  his  pulpit  addresses  the  more  appro- 
priate, he  was  frequent  in  pastoral  visits,  and  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  circumstances  of  his  flock.  At 
an  ordination  he  thus  commended  the  same  course 
to  others:  "Be  famihar  with  your  people;  not  high, 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


143 


or  strange.  Converse  with  them  for  their  good. 
Acquaint  yourselves  with  tlie  state  of  their  souls  ; 
their  temptations,  their  infiniiities.  You  will  then 
know  the  better  how  to  preach  to  them.  Your 
flock  being  volunteers,  you  may  be  the  more  en- 
couraged in  dealing  with  them,  and  en'courage  them 
to  ask  you  questions  about  their  souls." 

In  Mr.  Henry's  spiritual  vision  nothing  appeared 
to  have  been  either  diseased  or  distorted.  He  did 
not  merely  assert  doctrines  with  oracular  authority, 
but  proved  them  by  well-selected  and  convincing 
arguments  ;  whilst  the  duties  of  genuine  Christians 
were  unanswerably  enforced,  and  their  privileges 
and  enjoyments  illustrated  with  singular  ingenuity 
and  the  most  captivating  eloquence.  In  every  part 
of  the  system  of  revealed  truth,  he  saw  the  pleas- 
ing combination  of  infinite  wisdom  with  the  most 
unsullied  purity.  ''Some  truths,"  said  he,  "are 
plain  and  easy ;  others  are  more  deep  and  mysteri- 
ous ;  but  all  are  designed  to  fructify  the  holy  land, 
and  to  '  make  glad  the  city  of  God.'  It  is  but  a 
half  Christianity  that  rests  in  the  acts  of  devotion ; 
it  is  not  an  entire  Christianity  that  is  not  honest  as 
well  as  godly.  Without  this,  the  profession  of  re- 
ligion will  be  looked  upon  as  a  pretence ;  a  seeming 
religion,  which  is  vain."  "Take  heed,"  he  would 
say,  "  of  affecting  novelties  in  religion,  lest  you  fall 
into  vanities,  or  worse.  Ask  for  the  old  way ;  keep 
to  the  faith  once  dehvered  to  the  saints ;  keep  to 


144 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


the  proportion  of  faith.  Take  heed  to  your  doc- 
trine— that  it  jostle  not  out  God's  grace,  nor  man's 
duty ;  but  take  both  together." 

Governed  by  principles  like  these,  his  sermons 
were  uniformly  practical.  The  morals  which  he 
tauorht,  beincT* founded,  like  those  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment,  upon  the  doctrines  which  are  according  to 
godliness,  ever  left  the  purest  ethics  of  heathenism 
and  the  most  admired  dissertations  of  a  fashionable 
theology  at  an  immeasurable  distance.  He  said, 
*'  The  very  life  and  soul  of  religion  consists  in  a  con- 
scientious regard  to  Jesus  Christ :  that  Christianizeth 
morality,  and  turns  moral  virtue  into  evangelical 
holiness."  Instead,  therefore,  of  deahng  in  useless 
generalization,  his  sermons  were  fashioned  after  in- 
spired models,  and  aboimded  in  close  and  pungent 
address,  directed  at  once  to  the  understanding  and 
the  conscience  of  every  hearer.  When  advising 
others,  on  one  occasion,  to  discriminate  in  their 
preaching,  that  they  might  neither  strengthen  the 
hands  of  the  wicked,  nor  make  the  hearts  of  the 
righteous  sad,  he  said,  "  It  is  a  reigning  sign  of  hy- 
pocrisy, when  the  heart  cannot  endure  a  searching 
ministry ;  when  the  ministry  of  the  prophets  tor- 
ments," alluding  to  Rev.  11  :  10. 

From  an  earnest  desire  to  be  useful  in  saving  souls, 
Mr.  Henry  was  induced,  at  times,  to  adopt  a  style 
of  address  which  was  calculated  to  alarm.  Like  his 
venerable  father,  he  could  look  at  his  hearers,  and 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


145 


without  the  fear  of  contradiction  could  say,  I  love 
to  be  the  messenger  of  good  tidings ;  my  temper 
and  spirit  is  to  encourage  poor  sinners  to  come,  and 
repent."  Nevertheless,  as  a  faithful  watchman,  he 
felt  it  his  duty  to  warn  men  of  their  danger.  "We 
have  no  other  way,"  said  he,  of  delivering  our 
souls, ^but  by  telling  *  the  wicked  man '  that  he  shall 
surely  die ;  that  is,  be  eternally  miserable  in  the 
world  to  come.  Nor  is  this  legal  preaching ;  for 
Christ  so  preached  very  often.  The  Scriptures 
which  speak  of  hell  are  to  be  mostly  found  in  the 
New  Testament.  *  He  that  believeth  not,  shall  be 
damned,'  is  part  of  the  Gospel  which  we  are  com- 
missioned to  preach." 

But  Mr.  Henry's  fidelity  to  the  impenitent  did  not 
induce  him  to  shght  the  claims  of  believers.  On 
the  contrary,  he  delighted  to  minister  to  their  com- 
fort. To  them  he  unfolded  the  "precious  prom- 
ises," and  exhibited  the  glorious  "  recompense  of 
reward."  He  reminded  them  that  **  spiritual  life  is 
eternal  life  begun ;  that  present  light  and  love  are 
the  beginnings  of  eternal  light  and  love ;  that  the 
citizenship  of  the  saints  is  now  in  heaven ;  that  al- 
though as  yet  grace  be  like  the  smoking  flax,  yet 
there  is  a  spark,  and  it  will  shortly  blow  up  into  a 
flame."  "Duty  and  comfort,"  he  sometimes  re- 
marked, "go  abreast;  neither  are  to  be  neglected. 
Many  are  willing  to  separate  them.  They  love,  with 
Ephraim,  to  tread  out  the  corn ;  but  not,  with  Ju- 

Matthew  Henry.  1  ^ 


146 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


dah,  to  plough,  and,  with  Jacob,  to  break  the  clods. 
They  love  to  hear  of  comforts,  those  are  smooth 
things ;  but  not  to  hear  of  duty.  What,  however, 
God  has  joined,  let  us  not  think  to  separate.  Those 
•who  would  reap  in  glory,  must  sow  in  duty.  Justi- 
fication is  to  be  tried  by  sanctification.  They  are 
evermore  concomitants." 

Mr.  Henry  considered  the  improvement  of  provi- 
dential occurrences,  whether  merciful  or  afflictive, 
whether  general  or  local;  as  essential  to  making 
*'  full  proof  of  his  ministry."  He  therefore  fre- 
quently preached  sermons  of  a  miscellaneous  char- 
acter, adapted  to  the  young,  the  seasons  of  the 
year,  and  the  various  exercises  of  mourning  and 
joy,  which,  to  a  vigilant  pastor,  present  some  of  the 
finest  opportunities  of  efl:ective  ministration.  He 
observed,  "  The  command  to  be  *  instant  in  season 
and  out  of  season,'  is  charged  with  great  solemnity. 
And  is  it  not  in  season  when  persons  are  in  affliction  ? 
An  interpreter  will  then  be  one  of  a  thousand." 

The  redeeming  of  time,  especially  for  religious 
exercises,  formed  a  distinguished  feature  of  ancient 
non-conformity;  and  most  of  the  non-conformist  min- 
isters turned  this  to  good  account.  Amongst  the  rest, 
Mr.  Henry  maintained  a  weekly  lecture  on  Thursday, 
which  was  attended,  usually,  by  no  inconsiderable 
part  of  his  congregation.  It  is  the  will  of  God," 
he  said,  **  that  we  should  be  diligent  in  our  business 
all  the  days  of  the  week,  according  as  the  duty  of 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


147 


every  day  requires ;  but  it  is  a  corrupt  and  profane 
inference,  that  therefore  we  are  not,  on  those  days, 
to  pray  in  our  families,  or  hear  sermons.  In  the 
six  days  we  must  do  all  our  work.  And  is  not  serv- 
ing God,  and  working  out  our  salvation,  part  of  our 
business  ?  Have  we  not  souls  to  work  for,  as  well 
as  bodies  ?  As  God  must  have  his  day  out  of  every 
week,  so  he  must  have  his  hour  out  of  every  day. 
There  is,  as  we  may  see  in  the  145th  Psalm,  a  song 
not  only  for  the  Sabbath-day,  but  for  every  day. 
We  should  spend  as  much  for  our  souls  in  the  week- 
days, as  for  our  bodies  on  the  Sabbath." 

The  attention  paid  by  Mr.  Henry  to  the  rising 
generation  was  exemplary,  constant,  and  attractive. 
For  his  own  excitement,  and  also  for  the  guidance 
Qf  others,  he  not  imfrequently  observed,  that  Peter 
was  charged  to  feed  the  lambs,  as  well  as  the  sheep. 
In  addition  to  sermons  often  expressly  preached  to 
the  young,  the  work  of  catechizing  was  indefatigably 
performed  every  Saturday  afternoon.  The  exercise 
commenced  and  ended  with  prayer.  It  usually  oc- 
cupied more  than  an  horn*,  and  was  attended  not 
only  by  the  catechumens,  but  by  others  also,  who, 
fondly  anticipating  the  holy  rest  of  the  Sabbath  on 
the  morrow,  esteemed  the  service  a  suitable  prep- 
aration for  the  sacred  duties  of  the  sanctuary.  When 
any  of  those  yomig  persons  of  whom  he  had  enter- 
tained hope  grew  vain  and  careless,  he  deeply  la- 
mented their  state ;  and  ceased  not  to  pray  to  God 


148 


RIEMOIR  OF  THE 


that  he  would  recover  them  out  of  the  snare  of  the 
devil,  before  their  hearts  were  hardened  through  the 
deceitfulness  of  sin.  But  in  this  labor  of  love  for 
the  young,  it  was  Mr.  Henry's  happiness  and  honor 
to  be  remarkably  successful,  as  well  as  persevering. 

His  attention  to  discipline  in  the  church  combined 
spiritual  wisdom  with  holy  zeal,  and  was  equally 
remote  from  precipitation  and  supineness.  Without 
trespassing  either  upon  faithfulness  or  tenderness, 
he  could  adopt  the  apostle's  spirit-stirring  appeal : 
Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  of- 
fended, and  I  burn  not  ?"  When  evil  reports  con- 
cerning any  of  his  flock  needed  attention,  he  inquired 
diligently  into  the  facts ;  he  weighed  every  com- 
plaint and  every  plea  ;  and  if  the  statement  was 
proved,  reproof  was  fully  administered,  but  with  tli# 
utmost  affection.  His  object  was  not  to  indulge  any 
angry  feeling,  but  to  reclaim  the  offender.  Such  he 
invariably  endeavored  to  restore  "in  the  spirit  of 
meekness,"  according  to  the  apostolic  exhortation. 

The  sick  and  afflicted  were  special  objects  of  his 
attention,  whatever  might  be  their  external  circum- 
stances or  their  ecclesiastical  connections,  provided 
that  in  this  last  particular  he  should  not  be  intrench- 
ing upon  the  duty  of  any  other  minister,  for  he  never 
attempted  to  build  upon  another  man's  foundation. 
Nothing  short  of  invincible  necessity  prevented  his 
attendance  whenever  his  services  were  called  for. 
Nor  did  he  wait  for  applications  to  be  made  for  those 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY 


149 


senices.  By  inquiring  among  his  friends,  he  sought 
out  the  afflicted ;  and  when  his  prayers  in  the  con- 
gregation were  anonymously  desired,  he  would  pub- 
licly request  the  writers  to  furnish  their  names,  not 
only  that  he  might  remember  them  in  prayer  more 
appropriately,  but  that  he  might  know  how  to  render 
them  other  service  also.  In  his  diary  he  is  almost 
daily  to  be  traced,  when  at  home,  to  the  chambers 
of  the  sick  and  distressed,  the  Sabbath  not  except- 
ed ;  sometimes  he  visited  four  or  five  in  a  day ;  the 
names  are  commonly  recorded,  and  brief  mention  is 
made  both  of  their  state  and  frame  of  mind.  The 
event  was  not  overlooked.  If  they  recovered,  he 
not  only  blessed  God  on  their  behalf,  but,  by  apt 
exhortations,  reminded  them  of  the  vows  and  reso- 
lutions which  they  had  made,  and  urged  to  the  per- 
formance of  them. 

Thus  faithfully  did  this  devoted  servant  of  Christ 
labor  in  the  ancient  city  of  Chester,  for  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  Nor  were  his  labors  confined 
Avithin  the  walls  of  the  city.  He  frequently  visited 
the  surrounding  villages  and  the  more  distant  towns 
of  the  county,  and  indeed  often  extended  his  labors 
to  the  counties  of  Lancashire,  Stafifordshire,  and 
portions  of  the  principality  of  Wales.  Like  all  other 
ministers  of  the  same  glorious  Gospel  which  he 
preached,  he  had  many  discouragements  in  his  work ; 
but,  generally,  he  was  privileged  to  behold  the  work 
of  the  Lord  prospering. 


150 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


As  he'  was  frequently  called  upon  to  assist  at  the 
solemnity  of  ordaining  his  younger  brethren  to  the 
work  and  office  of  the  ministry,  the  next  chapter 
will  be  devoted  to  the  record  of  some  of  the  coun- 
sels which,  on  those  occasions,  he  offered  to  those 
who  were  invested  through  his  instrumentality  with 
the  sacred  office. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Exhortations  delivered  by  Mr.  Henry  to  ministers  at  their 
ordination  to  the  sacred  office. 

The  ordination  of  a  minister  is  a  solemn  and  mo- 
mentous affair.  Mr.  Henry  felt  it  to  be  such,  both 
in  his  own  case  and  that  of  others.  The  following 
gleanings  from  exhortations  which  he  delivered  at 
different  times  on  such  occasions,  will  serve  increas- 
ingly to  illustrate  his  own  habits  of  pastoral  vigil- 
ance and  labor.  They  will  display,  also,  with  ad- 
ditional clearness,  the  exalted  pleasure  which  he 
felt  in  the  good  work.  And  while  they  may  serve 
to  lead  some  candidates  for  the  sacred  office  to  pause 
before  they  assume  its  responsibilities,  they  may,  at 
the  same  time,  encourage  others  to  put  their  hand 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


151 


to  the  gospel  plough  ;  and  edif}^  and  delight  all  who 
in  sincerity  and  in  truth  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  sole  Head  of  the  Church. 

**We  must  not,"  said  he,  "be  forward  to  put 
forth  ourselves  in  the  exercise  of  spiritual  gifts. 
Pride  often  appears  in  this  under  a  pretence  of  a 
desire  to  be  useful.  If  the  motive  be  correct,  it  is 
good  ;  but  humihty  will  wait  for  a  call." 

"  The  charge  we  have  now  to  give  unto  you  who 
are  sworn  on  the  grand  inquest  between  our  Sove- 
reign Lord,  the  King  of  kings,  and  his  church  on 
earth,  is  not  a  light  thing,  for  it  is  your  life.  You 
are  intrusted  with  the  '  charge  of  the  sanctuary.* 
Keep  the  charge,  though  you  be  called,  as  those  of 
old,  to  war  a  warfare  in  it. 

*'  It  is  a  divine  charge.  We  have  not  the  cutting 
out  of  your  work.  We  are  only  to  tell  you  what  it 
is.  Your  charge  you  receive  from  the  hand  that 
gives  you  your  commission,  and  puts  you  into  the 
ministry,  even  Christ,  whose  ministers  and  stewards 
you  are.  ^e.  commanded  the  twelve,  and  the  cir- 
cumstance is  noticed,  both  by  Matthew  and  Luke ; 
the  one  in  his  Gospel,  and  the  other  in  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles.  From  him  you  are  to  expect  the 
blessing,  and  strength  to  fulfil  your  trust. 

**  It  is  a  charge  solemn  enough  to  strike  the  light- 
est mind  with  awe.  See  with  what  solemnity  Paul, 
again  and  again,  addressed  Timothy,  though  a  man 
of  a  serious  spirit.   1  Tim.  5  :  21 ;  1  Tim.  6:13;  2 


152 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Tim.  4  :  1,  2.  God's  eye  is  upon  you,  and  the  eye 
of  Christ,  and  the  holy  angels ;  therefore  it  is  that 
you  receive  the  charge  in  public,  and  before  the 
church. 

"  It  is  a  charge  that  requires  for  the  fulfilling  of 
it  the  whole  man — '  all  that  is  within  you.'  If  a 
man  had  ten  souls,  the  ministry  is  work  enough  for 
them  all.  Therefore  the  charge  of  the  sanctuary 
was  committed  to  men  in  the  prime  of  their  time, 
between  the  ages  of  twenty-five  and  fifty. 

It  is  a  charge  for  life ;  while  God  gives  you 
ability  and  opportunity.  You  are  laying  your  hand 
to  a  '  plough,'  from  which  there  is  no  looking  back. 
It  is  a  charge  from  which  you  must  not  think  of 
being  discharged  till  your  life  end.  In  case  of  sick- 
ness or  restraint,  '  God  will  have  mercy  and  not  sac- 
rifice.' 

"  It  is  a  charge  upon  which  you  will,  in  the  great 
day,  be  called  to  an  account.  Ministers  must  be 
judged.  Your  oflSce,  if  you  profane  the  holy  things 
of  God,  will  not  excuse  you.  Remember  Nadab 
and  Abihu  ;  the  day  after  they  were  consecrated, 
they  were  consumed. 

"You  must  faithfully  explain  and  apply  the  ora- 
cles of  God.  You  have  a  Gospel  to  preach,  not  to 
make.  You  must  faithfully  administer  the  ordinances 
of  Christ.  You  must  maintain  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel.  You  must  preside  in  religious  assemblies. 
You  must  witness  against  sin.    You  must  separate 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


153 


between  the  precious  and  the  vWe.  You  must  com- 
fort afflicted  consciences.  You  must  intercede  for 
the  church  and  people  of  God.  You  must  transmit 
that  which  is  committed  to  you  to  the  rising  gen- 
eration. 

"  In  particular,  we  give  you  charge  conceiTiing 
the  CARE  OF  TOUR  SOULS.  '  Take  heed'  to  thyself, 
to  save  thyself  in  the  first  place. 

"  Make  sure  your  own  interest  in  Christ,  and  a 
work  of  grace  in  your  hearts.  See  that  the  good 
work  be  wrouo-ht  and  ocoinor  on  there.  Raise  your 
applications  from  thence,  that  you  may  speak  feel- 
ingly and  experimentally.  Such  a  thing  affected  me. 
Press  those  methods  you  yourselves  have  found  the 
benefit  of.  Be  not  as  Noah's  workmen,  who  built 
an  ark  for  others,  and  perished  themselves ;  or  as 
mercurial  posts,  which  direct  others,  but  themselves 
stand  still.  Your  work  will  be  a  task  and  a  burden 
to  you,  if  you  do  not  relish  divine  things ;  and  in 
that  case  you  cannot  expect  God's  blessing. 

"Keep  up  communion  with  God,  both  in  secret 
and  in  public.  Be  affected  yourselves  with  what 
you  speak  to  others.  God  gives  his  prophets  leave 
to  be  free  with  him.  Use  your  freedom.  Let  us 
not  be  strangers  to  "our  Master.  It  is  our  privilege 
that  we  are  often  called  to  prayer.  Let  us,  like  the 
apostle  Paul,  keep  a  conscience  void  of  offence.  How 
else  can  we  expect  God's  presence,  and  strength, 
and  blessing  ?    We  profess  to  be  tender,  and  we 


154 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


condescend,  in  some  things,  to  justify  that  tender- 
ness. Let  it  be  so  in  every  thing.  If  we  walk  not 
in  God's  counsels,  how  can  we  expect  to  profit  his 
people  ?  Take  heed  of  sin.  You  spoil  your  min- 
istry if  you  suffer  that  worm  to  be  at  the  root.  Set 
your  eye  upon  God's  eye,  and  believe  that  his  is 
upon  yours. 

"Keep  np  an  intimacy  with  your  own  hearts.  Be 
much  in  communing  with  them.  Keep  your  own 
vineyards ;  else  how  can  you  keep  others'  ?  Make 
that  clear  to  yourselves,  which  you  would  make  clear 
to  others  ;  and  be  affected  with  that  yourselves  with 
which  you  would  affect  others.  Look  well  to  your 
principles  and  aims ;  let  your  eye  be  single.  Take 
heed  of  pride  ;  it  will  spoil  all.  There  is  no  greater 
ornament  to  a  young  minister  than  humility.  Say, 
with  the  psalmist,  *  I  will  go  in  the  strength  of  the 
Lord  God.  I  will  make  mention  of  thy  righteous- 
ness, even  of  thine  only.' 

"Take  heed  of  spiritual  pride.  This  is  spoken 
of,  in  an  address  to  Timothy,  as  the  temptation  of 
young  ministers.  Think  not  that  you  have  already 
attained  ;  but  forget  the  things  that  are  behind. 
Magnify  your  office,  but  do  not  magnify  yourselves. 
It  is  not  outward  honor  that  we  must  aim  at.  Let 
evil  report  help  to  lay  us  low,  and  let  not  good  re- 
port help  to  lift  us  up.  Boasting  is  for  ever  excluded. 
*  For  who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from  another?  And 
what  hast  thou  that  thou  didst  not  receive?   Nov/,  if 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


155 


thou  didst  receive  it,  why  dost  thou  gloiy,  as  if  thou 
hadst  not  received  it?'  Pray  much  against  this  sin; 
pray  for  '  grace  sufficient.' 

"  We  give  you  charge  concerning  the  course  of 
YOUR  CONVERSATION.  If  your  Uves  do  not  corre- 
spond with  your  preaching,  you  pull  down  with  one 
hand  what  you  build  up  with  the  other.  See  to  it 
that,  in  your  conversation,  you  preserve  the  credit 
of  your  ministry.  We  charge  you  with  this,  because 
the  glory  and  honor  of  God  is  concerned  in  it,  which 
will  suffer  if  you  miscarry.  '  Thou  which  teachest 
another,  teachest  thou  not  thyself  ?  Thou  that 
teachest  a  man  should  not  steal,  dost  thou  steal? 
Thou  that  sayest  a  man  should  not  commit  adultery, 
dost  thou  commit  adultery  ?  Thou  that  abhorrest 
idols,  dost  thou  commit  sacrilege  ?  Thou  that  makest 
thy  boast  of  the  law,  through  the  breaking  of  the 
law  dishonorest  thou  God  ?' 

"  Keep  at  a  distance  from  all  evil,  all  appearance 
of  it.  Many  eyes  are  upon  you.  Let  your  con- 
versation be  grave,  sober,  pure.  Ministers  should 
be  mortified  men.  Cherish  not  desires  after  worldly 
riches  and  delights ;  but  *  follow  after  righteousness, 
godliness,  faith,  patience,  meekness.  Flee  also  youth- 
ful lusts.' 

"  Take  heed  of  the  indulgence  of  the  flesh.  Paul 
reminds  himself  of  it.  *  I  keep  my  body  under,  and 
bring  it  into  subjection ;  lest  by  any  means  when  I 
have  preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  cast- 


156 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


away.'  Take  it  not  ill  that  I  remind  you  of  it. 
Prophets  are  spiritual  men ;  but  '  the  prophet  is  a 
fool,  and  the  spiritual  man  is  mad,'  if  he  submit  to, 
the  dominion  of  carnal  lusts.  Be  sober  in  the  use 
of  creature  comforts.  That  liberty  which  may  be 
decent  in  another,  may  be  culpable  in  a  minister. 
He  that  ruleth  not  himself,  how  shall  he  rule  the 
church  ? 

"  Take  heed  of  worldliness.  The  love  of  money 
is  a  root  of  more  evil  in  a  minister  than  in  any  other 
person.  Regard  not  your  stuff  if  the  heavenly  Ca- 
naan be  yours.  Let  them  that  know  no  better  take 
their  portion  in  these  things ;  but  you  may  not. 

"  Promote  the  ends  of  your  ministry.  Preach  in 
your  lives.  Use  good  discourse.  It  will  be  ex- 
pected from  you,  and  better  taken  than  from  others. 
Be  examples  to  believers,  in  word,  in  conversation, 
in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity.  Let  it  be 
seen  that  you  believe  what  you  report  of  the  evil 
of  sin.  Men  will  do  as  you  do  sooner  than  as  you 
say.  Make  your  converse  edifying,  that  every  com- 
pany you  come  into  may  be  the  better  for  you. 
Your  profession  is  an  honor  to  you ;  be  not  you  a 
disgrace  to  it. 

"  *  Be  wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves.' 
These  two  must  go  together.  Act  with  prudence  ; 
not  'fleshly  wisdom,'  but  that  which  is  by  the  grace 
of  God.  It  will  be  your  prudence  to  meddle  as 
little  as  may  be  in  secular  affairs ;  not  to  entangle 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


157 


yourselves  in  the  affairs  of  this  life.  '  Who  made 
me  a  judge  or  divider  ?'  Also  take  heed  of  what 
you  say  to  other  people.  There  is  a  time  when  the 
prudent  shall  keep  silence.  With  this,  innocency, 
a  dovelike  spirit  without  gall,  will  well  become  you. 
If  others  are  any  way  injurious,  do  not  meditate 
revenge  ;  for  this  is  not  dovelike.  Your  business  is 
to  do  good  to  all ;  therefore,  your  care  must  be  to 
do  hurt  to  none. 

"  Give  no  offence  in  any  thing,  that  the  ministry 
be  not  blamed :  get  and  keep  a  good  name :  avoid 
every  appearance  of  evil.  The  most  circumspect 
cannot  escape  censure,  but  you  should  put  to  silence 
the  ignorance  of  foolish  men.  Let  it  never  be  said  of 
us,  that  we  are  proud  and  haughty,  that  we  are  vain 
and  frothy,  that  we  are  covetous  or  worldly.  Deny 
yourselves  in  many  things  which  otherwise  are  law- 
ful, that  you  may  save  the  credit  of  your  ministry. 
If  that  be  blamed,  we  are  blamed  who  have  set  you 
apart  to  it.  You  have  many  eyes  upon  you,  and 
some  that  watch  for  your  halting,  therefore  walk 
accurately. 

"  Show  yourselves  patterns  of  good  works.  Christ 
began  to  do  and  to  teach ;  and  so  must  you.  Your 
voice  is  Jacob's  ;  let  your  hand  be  his  also.  You 
would  have  others  to  be  serious  and  humble :  be 
you  so.  You  must  put  others  in  mind,  as  directed, 
to  be  subject  to  principalities  and  powers,  to  obey 
magistrates,  to  be  ready  to  every  good  work;  to  be 


158 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


no  brawlers,  but  gentle,  showing  all  meekness  unto 
all  men.  Set  them  an  example,  then ;  let  no  man 
despise  your  youth.  Though  you  are  young  in  age, 
you  are  elders  in  office  :  it  becomes  you,  therefore, 
to  be  serious  and  grave.  If  any  variance  happens, 
be  patterns  of  peace-making,  yielding  to  others,  and 
bearing  with  them.  Be  examples  of  peaceableness. 
You  will  hardly  reconcile  those  to  Christ  whom  you 
cannot  reconcile  to  yourselves.  Win  all  by  love  and 
meekness. 

"  We  give  you  charge  concerning  the  welfare 
OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  GENERAL.  You  are  the  messen- 
gers of  the  churches,  as  well  as  the  glory  of  Christ. 
Be  serviceable  to  the  church.  Take  all  occasions 
for  the  pulpit.  Make  it  appear  that  your  work  is  a 
delight,  and  not  a  drudgery.  Instruct  and  exhort 
in  personal  converse ;  never  reckon  it  out  of  season. 
Fail  not  to  visit  the~sick.  Be  instant  in  visiting  those 
also  who  are  in  health.  Wherever  you  come,  leave 
a  good  word  behind  you. 

"You  are  watchmen  upon  the  walls.  *  Ye  that 
make  mention  of  the  Lord,  keep  not  silence,  and  give 
him  no  rest,  till  he  establish,  and  till  he  make  Jeru- 
salem a  praise  in  the  earth.'  Be  intercessors  for  the 
church.  Prophets  of  old  prayed  for  the  public  peace. 
Stand  in  the  gap,  as  did  Moses — who  should,  if  you 
do  not  ?  Acquaint  yourselves  with  the  state  of  the 
churches,  that  you  may  be  particular  herein.  See- 
ing you  are  not  obliged  to  forms,  you  have  the  more 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


159 


need  to  furnish  yourselves  for  every  good  word  and 
work.  Let  not  that  liberty  be  turned  into  licentious- 
ness. Improve  in  your  praying  gifts ;  offer  not  any 
thing  unbecoming  the  seriousness  of  that  ordinance. 
Use  Scripture  expressions.  They  are  most  unex- 
ceptionable, and  most  agreeable  to  those  who  are 
serious.    Pray  for  the  spirit  of  prayer. 

"  We  are  in  Christ's  kingdom,  appointed  to  be 
conservators  of  the  peace.  Charge  the  peace  then 
in  Christ's  name.  Condemn  not  those  who  differ 
from  you.  Be  not  censorious.  Widen  not  your 
differences.  Judge  charitably  of  all.  Praise  that 
^which  is  good ;  and  make  the  best  of  what  you  dis- 
like. Let  us  be  offensive  to  none,  but  obliging  to 
all.  Let  not  the  Gospel  of  peace  be  'preached  con- 
tentiously. 

*'  We  charge  you  concerning  the  welfare  of 

THOSE    CONGREGATIONS   WHICH    ARE  PARTICULARLY 

COMMITTED  TO  YOU.  They  must,  in  a  special  man- 
ner, be  your  care.  You  are  their  choice ;  you  are 
not  thrust  upon  them  ;  and  therefore  you  have,  in 
some  respects,  a  greater  advantage  in  dealing  with 
them.  *  Take  heed  to  all  the  flock  over  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers :  to  feed  the 
church  of  God,  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his 
own  blood.'  Feed  the  flock  of  God.  You  must  do 
this  in  your  familiar  applications  ;  and  especially 
when  they  apply  to  you.  Be  familiar  with  them, 
not  shy  and  haughty.    Show  yourselves  glad  of  an 


160 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


occasion  to  talk  with  them  about  their  souls.  Be  so 
well  furnished  that  you  need  not  fear  betraying  a 
weak  side.  Be  so  humble  as  not  to  think  it  a  dis- 
paragement to  converse  with  the  meanest  saint,  but 
rather  a  disparagement  to  be  in  company  with  the 
haughtiest  sinner.  And  be  faithful  to  them.  Tell 
them  with  meekness  of  their  faults. 

*'We  charge  you  by  way  of  comfort  and  en- 
couragement. You  must  expect  to  meet  with  dif- 
ficulties— from  the  oppositions  of  Satan,  from  the 
frowns  of  the  world.  You  must  expect  reproach 
and  contempt.  It  is  our  present  trial.  You  may 
be  tempted  to  think  all  this  had  been  prevented  if 
you  had  been  of  some  other  employment.  You  see 
little  success  of  your  ministry,  and  that  is  a  discour- 
agement. You  labor  in  vain,  and  are  ready  to  faint. 
But  the  greatest  discouragement  is  from  within; 
our  own  weakness.  We  do  not  (say  you)  profit 
ourselves ;  we  fear  we  shall  not  hold  out.  Be  not 
discouraged.  Let  your  weakness  and  infirmities 
humble  you,  but  not  dishearten  you;  for  God's 
grace  is  sufficient.  When  you  are  weak  in  yom*- 
sclves,  if  sensible  of  your  weakness,  and  relying  on 
Christ,  you  shall  find  yourselves  strong.  Encourage 
yourselves  to  use  means  for  your  improvement. 
God's  blessing  can  do  wonders  by  weak  endeavors. 

"  Be  not  discouraged  by  the  reproaches  and  in- 
juries you  may  meet  with.  You  set  out  with  the 
wind  in  your  faces,  and,  perhaps,  may  hear  of  hard 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


161 


things  said  of  you ;  but  let  none  of  these  things 
move  you.  You  are  not  to  stand  or  fall  by  mens 
judgment:  approve  yourselves  to  God,  and  you 
may  be  easy.  The  smiles  of  our  Father  will  balance 
the  anger  of  our  mother's  children ;  and  his  *  well 
done,'  all  their  unkind  censures.  Nor  be  discouraged 
by  the  little  success  of  your  ministry.  It  is  the 
case  that  we  are  disappointed  as  to  many,  and  as  to 
some  whom  we  have  taken  pains  with,  of  whom  we 
have  said,  These  '  shall  comfort  us  concerning  our 
work,  and  the  toil  of  our  hands.'  But  our  recom- 
pense will  be  according  to  our  faithfulness,  not  our 
success.  'Though  Israel  be  not  gathered,  yet,'  said 
Isaiah,  *  shall  I  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 
and  my  God  shall  be  my  strength.'  It  may  be  it 
is  our  own  fault.  *  If,'  said  the  Lord  by  Jeremiah, 
*  if  they  had  stood  in  my  counsel,  and  had  caused 
my  people  to  hear  my  words,  then  they  should 
have  turned  them  from  their  evil  way,  and  from  the 
evil  of  their  doings.'  Remember,  you  are  employed 
in  work  in  which  God  is  working  with  you.  We 
serve  a  Master  who,  if  we  be  faithful  to  him,  makes 
the  best  of  us,  and  is  not  'extreme  to  mark'  what 
we  do  amiss.  You  have  many  encouraging  exam- 
ples before  you.  Great  will  be  your  reward  in 
heaven,  if  you  are  faithful.  The  souls  you  win,  the 
sufferings  you  bear,  will  be  your  crown. 

There  are,  however,  several  other  things  to  en- 
courage us.    The  goodness  of  our  work.    We  are 

Matthew  Henry.  ^  ^ 


162 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


despised ;  but  our  work  is  not  despicable.  It  is  work 
for  Christ  and  the  souls  of  men.  It  is  a  work  that 
■will  be  successful,  though  we  see  not,  and  feel  not, 
the  success  we  desire.  Can  we  ever  employ  our- 
selves better  than  in  that  which  is  the  proper  busi- 
ness of  our  office  ? 

"  Consider  the  kindness  of  our  Master.  He  ac- 
cepts of  our  sincere  endeavors.  He  has  promised 
to  own  us,  to  be  with  us  to  the  end  of  the  world  ; 
to  be  with  each  rising  generation. 

"  Remember  the  promise  of  the  Spirit  to  help  our 
infirmities ;  to  assist  us  in  our  work,  and  to  make  it 
successful.  The  promise  of  the  Spirit  relates  espe- 
cially to  ministers.  See  John's  Gospel,  chapters 
14  and  16.  Believe  the  experience  of  your  pred- 
ecessors;  they  have  found  God  all-sufficient  to 
them.  We  do  not  repent  laying  our  hand  to  this 
plough. 

"  And  then,  there  is  the  prospect  of  the  recom- 
pense. Bear  contempt.  If  you  be  faithful,  there 
is  honor  before  you ;  yea,  the  best  preferment.  Let 
us  keep  heaven  in  our  eye.  Be  encouraged  in  the 
difficulties  of  your  work:  heaven  will  make  amends 
for  all.  If  your  encouragement  be  but  small  in 
success,  the  recompense  of  the  reward  is  certain. 

"  Let  us  then  keep  doing.  You  have  constant 
work,  either  to  fish,  or  to  mend  your  nets:  like 
housekeepers,  either  to  bring  into  your  treasuries, 
or  to  bring  out.    Fill  up  your  time.  Ministers* 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


163 


time  especially,  should  be  precious.  Gather  as  you 
spend.  Let  us  love  our  studies.  *  Give  attendance 
to  readino".' 

o 

"  Let  me  say  something  to  quicken  you  ;  and  this 
give  me  leave  to  transfer  to  myself,  for  I  need  it. 
Let  me  consider  that  the  things  I  am  employed 
about  are  of  vast  importance  :  dealing  for  an  eternal 
God  with  immortal  souls,  about  their  everlasting 
state.  My  Master's  eye  is  always  upon  me ;  my 
time  is  very  precious,  and  ray  day  hastening  to  a 
period.  I  have  a  great  opportunity  of  doing  good 
if  I  be  faithful,  of  serving  Christ,  of  being  a  worker 
too-ether  with  God,  of  savinof  souls  from  death.  I 
must  shortly  give  account,  either  with  joy  or  grief, 
according  as  I  am,  or  am  not  faithful. 

**  Be  strong  in  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
See  that  you  have  true  grace  yourselves,  and  then 
that  you  be  stronger  and  stronger.  Let  all  your 
strength  be  in  the  grace  of  Christ.  Derive  from 
him  daily  ;  depend  always  upon  him.  Walk  up  and 
down  in  his  name.  Without  this,  *  the  youths  will 
be  faint  and  be  weary.'  When  you  study  or  preach, 
go  in  the  strength  of  Christ. 

"  And  hold  fast  till  Christ  comes.  This  was  all 
the  burden  laid  upon  the  presbyters  of  Thyatira. 
Christ  comes  to  own  you,  and  crown  you.  Perse- 
vere to  the  end,  that  you  lose  not  that  crown.  I 
hope  you  are  satisfied  in  what  you  have  done  here 
to-day.    Do  not  undo  it  again,  but  hold  it  fast." 


164 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


What  minister  of  religion,  who  desires  to  be  ap- 
proved of  his  Redeemer  and  Lord,  whether  he  be  a 
tyro  or  a  veteran  in  the  work,  may  not  be  instructed 
and  benefited  by  the  appropriate,  weighty  counsels 
contained  in  this  chapter  ? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Commencement  of  his  labors  at  Hackney — His  indefatigable 
exertions — Anniversary  reflections — Attention  to  the  young 
— His  patronage  of  charity-schools — His  declining  health — 
Visits  Chester — Is  laid  aside  by  sickness — Relapses  again — 
Birthday  memorial— Devout  commencement  of  the  last  year 
of  his  life — Journey  to  Chester — His  last  Sabbaths  on  earth 
— Sets  out  for  London — Sickness  on  the  road — His  death — 
Funeral — Funeral  sermons. 

The  pastoral  engagements  of  Mr.  Henry  at  Hack- 
ney were  commenced  on  Lord's  day,  May  18,  1712. 
In  the  morning  he  expounded  the  first  chapter  of 
Genesis,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  first  chapter  of 
Matthew,  thus  beginning  the  world,  or  rather  the 
ministerial  office,  as  it  were,  anew.  He  preached 
to  an  encouraging  auditory  from  Acts  16:9,  "Come 
over  into  Macedonia,  and  help  us ;"  but  his  mind 
was  unhappy  and  depressed.  "  0  that  good  may 
be  done,"  is  the  aspiration  written  at  the  time ;  to 


REV.  3IATTHEW  HENRY. 


165 


which  he  adds,  "  I  am  sad  in  spirit,  lamenting  my 
departure  from  my  friends  at  Chester ;  but  if  they 
are  well  provided  for,  and  the  work  of  God  go  on 
among  them,  I  shall  be  easy,  whatever  discourage- 
ments I  meet  with." 

The  same  course  of  zealous  and  active  exertion 
which  has  been  already  described,  was  pursued  in 
his  new  sphere  of  labor,  both  within  and  beyond  the 
bounds  of  his  own  congregation.  But  while  the 
number  and  responsibilities  of  Mr.  Henry's  engage- 
ments were  increased,  those  habits  of  personal  piety 
and  self- dedication  which  have  been  so  fully  exhib- 
ited were  still  continued,  and  continued  in  the  same 
spirit  of  scriptural  and  elevated  devotion.  This  will 
be  clearly  seen  by  a  few  further  extracts  from  his 
journal. 

"October  18,  1712.  To-day  I  have  filled  up, 
or  rather  the  Lord  has  filled  up  unto  me,  the  fiftieth 
year  of  my  life,  and  I  now  enter  on  old  age — with 
so  many  years  has  the  divine  forbearance  indulged 
me,  who,  by  reason  of  my  sins,  am  heir  to  death — 
nor  has  God  only  given  life,  but  he  has  enriched  it 
with  all  good  things  pertaining  both  to  life  and  god- 
liness :  for  ever  blessed  be  his  name.  But  what 
have  I  done  more  than  others  for  the  glory  of  God, 
and  the  good  of  the  church  ?  I  have,  indeed,  lived 
an  idle,  slothful,  inactive,  and  useless  life.  Have 
mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  and  let  what  remains  of  my 
life  be  entirely  devoted  to  my  Redeemer ;  and  when 


\ 


166  MEiMOIR  OF  THE 

no  more  shall  remain,  let  this  life  be  sweetly  changed 
for  the  life  everlasting." 

January  1,  1713,  he  writes,  "Firmly  believing 
that  my  times  are  in  God's  hand,  I  here  submit  my- 
self, and  all  my  affairs,  for  the  ensuing  year,  to  the 
wise  and  gracious  disposal  of  the  divine  Providence  ; 
whether  God  appoint  for  me  health  or  sickness, 
peace  or  trouble,  comforts  or  crosses,  life  or  death, 
his  holy  will  be  done. 

"  Believing  that  my  heart  is  in  God's  hand,  this 
precious  soul  of  mine  I  commit  to  the  conduct  of  the 
divine  grace,  and  submit  to  the  influences  and  oper- 
ations of  the  blessed  Spirit,  to  be  wrought  up  to  a 
conformity  to  the  will  of  God  in  every  thing.  I 
depend  upon  God  to  give  me  a  wise  and  understand- 
ing heart  for  all  the  services  I  may  be  called  out 
unto,  and  from  him  I  hope  to  obtain  mercy  to  be 
found  faithful. 

"The  sphere  of  my  usefulness  is  much  enlarged. 
O  that  my  heart  may  be  proportionably  enlarged ; 
and  as  the  day  is,  so  let  the  wisdom,  and  strength, 
and  grace  be.  Temptations  to  spiritual  pride  are 
many.  0  that  the  grace  of  God  may  be  sufficient 
for  me,  to  keep  me  humble,  very  humble ;  to  keep 
up  in  me  always  a  humble  sense  of  my  own  un wor- 
thiness, weakness,  and  many  follies  and  infirmities ; 
and  a  humble  dependence  upon  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  as  all  in  all,  both  for  righteousness  and 
strength." 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


1G7 


At  Hackney,  as  at  Chester,  the  young  shared 
largely  in  Mr.  Henry's  attention.  Catechizing  had 
never  been  wholly  omitted  in  and  about  London, 
but  he  was  instrumental  in  a  more  general  revival 
of  it.  Besides  attending  to  that  duty  at  Hackney 
on  Saturdays,  which  he  commenced  performing  al- 
most immediately  after  his  settlement  there,  he  un- 
dertook a  catechetical  lecture  in  London,  at  the 
meeting-house  which  once  belonged  to  his  honored 
preceptor,  Mr.  Doolittle.  And  that  lecture  was  not 
only  well  attended,  but  some  young  persons  were 
known  to  Mr.  Tong,  who,  going  only  as  spectators, 
ascribed  their  first  religious  impressions  to  the  in- 
structions then  received. 

"  His  papers  abound  with  proofs  of  the  intense 
interest  which  he  took,  both  in  their  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare.  Nor  was  his  care  for  them  con- 
fined to  the  families  of  the  opulent ;  it  extended 
equally  to  the  children  of  the  poor.  One  of  his 
minutes  in  his  journal  is  the  following  :  "January 
1,  1*712-13,  I  went  early  to  Gravel-lane,  in  South- 
wark,  Mr.  Marriot's  meeting-place,  where  there  has 
been  a  charity-school  for  twenty-five  years  ;  the  only 
one  among  the  dissenters ;  there  I  preached  an  an- 
niversary sermon  on  Proverbs  3:9,*  Honor  the 
Lord  with  thy  substance.'  A  collection  was  made 
amounting  to  about  £35." 

But  whilst  employed  in  indefatigable  labors,  the 
time  of  his  departure  drew  near.    He  was  about  to 


168 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


receive  the  reward  of  the  faithful  servant,  whom  his 
Lord  when  he  coraeth  finds  "  watching  "  and  work- 
ing. His  motion  in  hohness  and  service  was  the 
swifter  as  he  came  nearer  to  the  centre  of  his  rest." 
He  did  not  long  survive  his  removal  to  Hackney ; 
but  his  descent  to  the  grave,  though  at  last  sudden, 
w^as  gradual.  His  frame  had  been  severely  tried  by 
the  attacks  which  have  been  already  noticed ;  and 
during  the  last  two  years  of  his  life,  their  frequency 
and  violence  increased.  They  visibly  indicated  a 
yielding  constitution,  and  so  attracted  his  own  no- 
tice, as  to  occasion  frequent  allusion  to  the  probable 
issue ;  but  with  enviable  composure,  if  not  delight. 

Before  he  left  Chester,  he  engaged,  while  able, 
to  visit  that  city  annually,  for  a  few  Sabbaths.  This 
arrangement,  suggested  by  the  congregation  at 
Hackney,  the  better  to  secure  his  acceptance  of 
their  invitation,  was  most  scrupulously  observed. 
His  own  account  will  best  furnish  the  detail,  and  is 
too  interesting  to  be  omitted. 

"July  20,  1713.  I  am  now  set  out  in  the  coach 
for  Chester,  to  visit  my  friends  in  the  country,  as  I 
proposed  and  promised  when  I  came  hither,  aiming 
at  God's  glory,  and  the  edification  of  souls. 

On  the  23rd  we  came  to  Whitchurch  ;  many  of 
my  friends  met  me  there,  to  my  great  reviving.  In 
the  afternoon  I  went  and  preached  at  Broad  Oak, 
from  Romans  1:11,  'For  I  long  to  see  you,  that  I 
may  impart  unto  you  some  spiritual  gift,  to  the  end 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


1.39 


ye  may  be  established.'  The  next  day  I  went  to 
Chester,  where  my  friends  received  me  with  much 
aftection  and  respect,  so  that  I  could  not  but  say  it 
was  worth  the  while  to  come.  On  the  Lord's  day 
I  preached  from  1  Tim.  6  :  12,  'Lay hold  on  eternal 
life.'  It  was  very  pleasant  to  me  to  preach  in  the 
old  place,  where  I  have  often  met  with  God  and 
been  owned  by  him.  On  Wednesday  we  kept  a 
congregational  fast ;  the  next  Lord's  day  I  preached, 
and  administered  the  Lord's  supper  to  my  beloved 
flock ;  a  great  congregation.  On  Monday  I  went  to 
Middle wich,  preached  a  lecture  there  from  Matthew 
24  :  12,  '  Iniquity  abounds.'  The  next  day  to  Kniits- 
ford,  to  a  meeting  of  ministers.  I  preached  from 
Col.  2:8,'  Though  absent  in  the  flesh,  yet  present 
in  the  spirit:'  about  the  spiritual  communion  of 
saints. 

"  On  Lord's  day,  August  9,  I  preached  at  Ches- 
ter, from  Titus  2  :  13,  'Looking  for  the  blessed 
hope.'  I  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of  many  of 
my  friends,  and  prayed  with  many  of  them  ;  the 
next  day  set  out  from  Chester,  with  much  ado,  for 
Nantwich,  where  Mr.  Motterehed  is  well  settled.  I 
preached  from  Joshua  1  :  5,  6,  'As  I  was  with 
Moses,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  be  strong  and  of  a  good 
courage.'  From  thence  that  night  to  Wrenbury 
Wood,  and  preached  there  from  John  1  :  48 ;  and 
from  thence  to  Danford,  and  preached  at  Whit- 
church, from  1  Peter,  5:10,  and  took  my  leave  of 


170 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


my  dear  friends  there.  I  went  into  the  coach  alone ; 
came  to  London  the  loth,  and  found  my  tabernacle 
in  peace." 

Shortly  after  his  return  home,  symptoms  of  dia- 
betes manifested  themselves,  and  he  was  laid  aside 
for  one  Sabbath.  "A  melancholy  day,"  he  writes, 
"yet  not  without  some  sweet  communion  with  God. 
It  is  just  upon  me  for  an  inordinate  desire  to  be  at 
my  study  and  work  again."  Still  feeling  the  effects 
of  the  shock,  he  says,  soon  after,  "  I  cannot  now 
rise  so  early,  nor  stick  so  close  to  my  study,  as  I 
could  before  my  last  illness.  The  Lord  perfect 
strength  in  me." 

During  the  following  month  his  already  shattered 
system  sustained  another  violent  nephritical  attack. 
It  was  the  Sabbath  when  he  was  seized  with  it ;  but 
he  officiated  as  usual,  and  toiled  incessantly  during 
the  ensuing  week.  On  Tuesday  he  went  to  London 
to  his  catechizing.  On  Wednesday  he  delivered 
the  lecture  at  Hackney,  and  attended  the  funeral 
of  his  neighbor,  Mr.  Ironmonger,  who  was  buried 
at  Stepney.  On  Thursday  evening  he  preached  at 
Spitalfields.  On  Friday  he  joined  in  a  fast,  and 
gave  the  sermon  at  Mr.  Fleming's,  at  Founder's 
hall.    On  Saturday  he  found  himself  well. 

Another  birthday  anniversary  having  amved,  it 
was  noticed  in  the  following  tender  and  expressive 
terms.  "October  18,  1713.  The  fifty-first  year  of 
mv  life  has  this  dav  closed.    In  the  course  of  it 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


171 


many  of  my  friends  have  reached  their  goal.  I  am 
yet  ahve,  but  in  the  midst  of  death.  May  my  soul 
be  fitted  for  the  heavenly  life,  and  then — the  will 
of  the  Lord  be  done." 

The  interval  of  convalescence  "was  short.  In  ref- 
erence to  his  frequent  attacks  of  sickness  about  this 
time,  he  affectingly  noticed  the  alternations  of  ease 
and  pain.  In  any  circumstances  such  notices  would 
be  valuable ;  but  they  are  rendered  doubly  so,  from 
the  speedy  and  sudden  termination  of  his  earthly 
pilgrimage. 

"Lord's  day,  Dec.  13.  This  morning,  a  little 
after  midnight,  I  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  the  stone ; 
but,  blessed  be  God,  the  pain  in  about  an  hour 
went  off :  though  fatigued  with  it,  yet  the  poor  body 
was  fitted  in  some  measure  to  serve  the  Lord.  I 
went  to  London,  and  preached  the  morning  lecture 
at  Mr.  Robinson's,  from  John  20  :  1,  '  The  first  day 
of  the  week,  early,  while  it  was  yet  dark.'  I  preached 
at  Hackney,  from  Romans  2  :  8,  9. 

''Thursday,  Dec.  17.  I  went  to  my  study  early 
in  the  morning  ;  but  before  seven  o'clock,  I  was 
seized  with  a  fit  of  the  stone,  which  held  me  all  day 
pained  and  sick.  I  lay  much  on  the  bed.  I  had 
comfort  in  lifting  up  my  heart  to  God,  and  pleading 
his  promises,  and  encouraged  myself  in  him.  About 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  1  had  much  ease,  but  was 
weak. 

"  Friday,  Dec.  18.  I  am  very  well  to-day,  though 


172 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


very  ill  yesterday.  How  is  this  life  counter- changed ! 
Yet  I  am  but  girding  on  the  harness.  The  Lord 
prepare  me  for  the  next  fit,  and  for  the  last." 

It  was  an  observation  of  Mr.  Henry's,  that  "  The 
more  we  have  of  the  foretastes  of  heaven;  the  less 
evil  we  shall  see  in  death  ;  which,"  said  he,  "  is  not 
a  bar,  but  a  bridge,  in  our  way  to  glory."  And 
now,  standing  upon  the  threshold  of  another  year, 
and  as  if  conscious  that  it  was  to  be  his  last,  he 
looked  the  king  of  terrors  steadily  in  the  face ;  and 
through  faith  in  Him  who  hath  overcome  death,  and 
opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  behevers,  he 
triumphed. 

"January  1,  1*714.  Reflecting  with  thankful- 
ness upon  the  many  mercies  of  the  past  year ;  a 
good  measure  of  health  ;  health  in  my  family ;  en- 
couragement in  my  ministry,  both  in  the  congrega- 
tion here,*  and  at  London  ;  the  comforts  of  my  jour- 
ney to  Chester ;  the  happy  settlement  of  the  con- 
gregation there  ;  the  continuance  of  the  public  tran- 
quillity ;  and,  I  trust,  through  grace,  some  sweet 
communion  with  God  in  his  ordinances,  and  some 
progress  heavenwards,  and  my  work  pleasant  to 
me : 

"Reflecting  with  sorrow  and  shame  upon  my 
manifold  defects,  and  short-comings  in  holy  duties  ; 
and  at  other  times  invrard  impressions  not  always 

*  Hackney  is  one  of  the  suburbs  of  London,  a  few  miles 
from  the  centre  of  the  city. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY 


173 


answering  to  outward  expressions  ;  having  begged 
for  pardon  in  the  blood  of  Christ : 

"  I  this  morning  renewed  the  dedication  of  my- 
self to  God ;  my  own  self,  my  whole  self,  body,  soul, 
and  spirit.  Father,  I  give  thee  my  heart ;  use  me 
for  thy  glory  this  year ;  employ  me  in  thy  ser\-ice ; 
fit  me  for  thy  will.  If  it  should  be  a  year  of  sick- 
ness and  pain  ;  if  a  year  of  family  affliction  ;  if  a  year 
of  public  trouble  ;  if  of  silencing  and  sufi"ering,  bonds 
and  banishment  ;*  if  it  be  my  dying  year,  welcorae 
the  holy  will  of  God :  if  a  year  of  continued  health, 
peace,  and  liberty.  Lord,  I  desire  to  be  busy  in  the 
improvement  of  it,  both  in  study  and  preaching,  in 
an  entire  dependence  upon  divine  grace,  without 
which  I  am  nothing,  and  can  do  nothing." 

On  this  new-year's  day,  the  last  of  his  life,  he 
preached  a  sennon  to  young  people,  from  Proverbs 
23  :  26,  My  son,  give  me  thy  heart."  To  the 
record  of  this  in  his  diary,  the  following  devout 
aspiration  was  added :  "  Lord,  take  my  heart,  and 
mate  it  such  as  it  should  be." 

On  Monday,  the  31st  of  May,  Mr.  Hemy  set  out 
on  his  annual  journey  to  visit  his  friends  at  Ches- 

*  How  little  can  those  of  the  present  generation,  either  in 
England  or  America,  enter  into  the  feelings  of  our  Puritan 
forefathers,  who  labored  and  straggled  for  the  happy  rehgious 
liberty  which  we  now  enjoy — sitting  "under  our  own  vine 
and  fig-tree  ;"  and  none  daring  to  make  us  afraid  I  "  Xot 
unto  us,  not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  to  thy  name"  do  we  give  the 
"  glory." 


174 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


ter  and  the  surrounding  country.  His  labors  were 
abundant.  He  visited  Wrexham,  Knutsford,  and 
Chowbent;  testifying  everywhere  "the  Gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God."  A  remark  which  he  made  dur- 
ing this  visit,  shows  more  satisfaction  than  he  had 
before  felt,  in  his  removal  to  Hackney.  It  was  this : 
"  I  am  here  [at  Chester]  among  my  old  friends,  yet 
I  find  my  new  ones  lie  very  near  my  heart,  among 
whom  God  has  now  cut  out  my  work." 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  two  last  Sab- 
baths which  Mr.  Henry  spent  on  earth,  were  em- 
ployed in  the  immediate  and  public  contemplation 
of  that  sabbatism  of  rest,  upon  which  he  was  so 
soon  to  enter.  On  one  of  those  days  he  preached 
from  Hebrews  4  :  9,  "There  remaineth,  therefore,  a 
rest  for  the  people  of  God ;"  and  on  the  other,  from 
the  first  verse  of  the  same  chapter,  "  Let  us  there- 
fore fear,  lest  a  promise  being  left  us  of  entering 
unto  his  rest,  any  of  you  should  seem  to  come  short 
of  it." 

The  day  following  the  delivery  of  the  last  of  these 
discourses,  Mr.  Henry  commenced  his  journey  on 
his  return  towards  Hackney.  He  was  observed  to 
be  heavy  and  sleepy,  but  his  uniform  answer  to  in- 
quiries was,  "  Well."  It  was,  however,  remarked  by 
a  medical  friend  before  he  left  Chester,  that  they 
should  never  see  him  again. 

Passing  by  Dudden  he  drank  a  glass  of  the  min- 
eral waters.    Before  he  reached  Tarporley,  his  horse 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


175 


threw  him ;  but  he  denied  that  the  fall  occasioned 
him  any  inconvenience.  All  invitations  to  tariy 
there  he  resisted,  and  loould  proceed  to  Nantwich, 
where  he  had  engaged  to  preach.  His  text  was 
Jer.  31  :  18  :  "I  have  surely  heard  Ephraim  be- 
moaning himself  thus :  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and 
I  was  chastised  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the 
yoke ;  turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ;  for 
thou  art  the  Lord  my  God."  The  absence  of  his 
usual  liveliness  was  universally  noticed. 

His  old  and  intimate  friend  Mr.  Illidge,  who  was 
with  him,  had  been  desired  by  Sir  Thomas  Delves 
and  his  lady,  to  invite  him  to  Doddington,  a  house 
famed  for  piety.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
the  steward  waited  to  conduct  him  thither.  But 
he  soon  became  unable  to  go  on,  and  at  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Mottershed,  he  was  obliged 
to  retire  to  bed.  He  requested  his  friends  to  pray 
for  him  ;  "for  now,"  said  he,  "I  cannot  pray  for 
myself."  He  spoke  of  the  excellency  of  spiritual 
comforts  in  a  time  of  need,  and  blessed  God  for  the 
enjoyment  of  them.  To  Mr.  Illidge,  who  was  accus- 
tomed to  notice  the  sayings  of  dying  men,  he  had 
remarked  in  London  the  preceding  month,  that  this 
was  his :  "  A  life  spent  in  the  service  of  God,  and 
communion  with  him,  is  the  most  comfortable  life 
any  one  can  live  in  this  world." 

The  next  morning,  Tuesday,  June  22,  about  five 
o'clock,  he  was  seized  with  apoplexy;  and,  after 


176 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


lying  three  hours  speechless,  with  his  eyes  fixed, 
*'he  fell  asleep."  Thus  was  the  faithful  servant 
released  from  all  further  labor  on  earth,  and  admit- 
ted to  the  plenitude  of  a  gracious  reward  in  heaven. 

In  vain  our  fancy  strives  to  paint 

The  moment  after  death, 
The  glories  that  surround  the  saint, 

When  he  resigns  his  breath. 

One  gentle  sigh  his  fetters  breaks  ; 

We  scarce  can  say,  "  He's  gone," 
Before  the  willing  spirit  takes 

Her  station  near  the  throne. 

Faith  strives,  but  all  its  efforts  fail 
To  trace  her  heavenward  flight  ; 

No  eye  can  pierce  within  the  veil 
Which  hides  that  world  of  light. 

Thus  much — and  this  is  all — we  know. 

They  are  supremely  blest ; 
Have  done  with  sin,  and  care,  and  woe, 

And  with  their  Saviour  rest. 

On  harps  of  gold  his  name  they  praise, 

His  presence  always  view  ; 
And  if  we  here  their  footsteps  trace. 

There  we  shall  praise  him  too. 

The  body  was  interred  in  Trinity  church,  Chester. 
On  the  day  of  the  funeral,  and  on  the  following 
Sabbath  morning,  Mr.  Withington,  the  assistant 
minister,  improved  the  event  in  the  meeting-house 
where  Mr.  Henry  had  so  long  held  forth  the  word 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


177 


of  life ;  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath,  Mr. 
Gardner,  the  pastor,  preached  from  2  Kings,  2:12, 
"  My  father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and 
the  horsemen  thereof." 

The  news  of  Mr.  Henrj^'s  death,  on  reaching  the 
metropolis,  awakened  inexpressible  sorrow.  The 
voice  of  lamentation  was  heard  from  different  pulpits 
in  every  direction.  Two  sermons  were  addressed  to 
the  Hackney  congregation  upon  the  occasion  of  the 
pastor's  death  ;  one  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Williams,  and 
the  other  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tong.  These  sermons, 
which  were  both  published,  were  admirably  calcu- 
lated to  perfume  the  name  of  the  deceased,  to  con- 
sole surviving  mourners,  to  gratify  descendants, 
and  to  instruct  and  edify  the  church. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

His  domestic  habits — Parental  tenderness — Family  worship — 
His  friendships — His  diligence  and  improvement  of  time — 
His  Christian  love — Hatred  of  censoriousness — His  candor 
and  moderation — His  prudence  and  benevolence — His  hu- 
mility, and  dependence  on  divine  assistance — His  submission 
under  trials — His  piety  towards  God  and  devotional  habits, 
the  basis  of  his  character  and  attainments — His  views  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  counsels  concerning  its  sanctification. 

The  present  chapter  will  be  employed  in  briefly 
delineating  Mr.  Henry's  private  character  and  his 

Matthsw  H*mcy.  I  2 


178 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Christian  virtues.  In  every  sense  of  the  phrase,  he 
was  a  domestic  man  ;  studiously  contributing  to  ti  e 
happiness  of  his  household.  Instead  of  going  abroad 
for  enjoyment,  he  sought  and  found  it  in  his  own 
habitation.  When  recording  a  journey  to  a  distance 
to  preach,  he  says,  "  In  the  evening  I  came  to  Ches- 
ter late,  and  through  much  rain  ;  but  it  was  home." 

His  diary  everywhere  abounds  with  evidences  of 
paternal  tenderness.  The  following  passage,  occa- 
sioned by  an  unfavorable  appearance  of  the  measles 
in  one  of  his  children,  in  which  a  contest  between 
devout  submission  and  natural  affection  is  very  ap- 
parent, may  serve  as  a  specimen.  "  I  desire  to 
give  him  (Philip)  up  to  my  heavenly  Father,  yet 
praying.  Father,  spare  mv  son,  my  only  son,  whom 
Hove." 

His  whole  conduct  towards  his  offspring  was 
marked  by  kindness.  The  advice  which  he  gave  to 
others,  he  acted  upon  himself.  To  parents  he  used 
to  say,  "  Do  all  you  can  to  make  your  children  love 
home."  "Continued  chiding  and  finding  fault,"  he 
abhorred.  "Remember,"  he  would  say,  "that  chil- 
dren are  but  children.  If  parents  would  not  correct 
them  except  in  a  praying  frame,  when  they  can  '  lift 
their  hands  without  wrath,'  it  would  neither  provoke 
God  nor  them." 

His  care  and  anxiety  for  the  spiritual  interests  of 
his  children  were  uniformly  conspicuous.  He  beheld 
them  with  deep  and  serious  attention ;  sometimes 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


179 


observing,  that  it  is  an  awful  consideration  that  when 
a  child  is  born  he  will  outlive  all  the  ages  of  time. 

In  the  education  of  his  own  children,  he  copied 
the  example  which  had  been  exhibited  at  Broad 
Oak  ;  an  example  in  which  it  would  be  difficult  to 
determine  whether  the  wisdom  of  the  discipline,  or 
the  sanctity  of  the  instruction,  most  predominated. 
Mr.  Henry  also  reverently  imitated  the  constancy 
I     and  punctuality  of  his  father  in  attending  to  domes- 
tic worship.    Whatever  happened,  and  whoever  was 
under  his  roof,  he  assembled  his  family,  both  in  the 
morning  and  evening,  as  early  as  circumstances 
would  admit ;  often  saying,  he  should  be  "  ashamed 
I     to  put  God  off  with  drowsy  devotions," 

In  conducting  family  worship,  he  was  compre- 
hensive ;  equally  avoiding  tediousness  and  haste. 
'     The  exercise  commenced  by  a  few  words  of  invoca- 
tion, in  which  aid  and  acceptance  were  implored. 
Then,  in  the  morning,  a  portion  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment Scnpture,  in  regular  course,  was  read  ;  and, 
in  the  evening,  with  like  regularity,  a  portion  of  the 
I    Xew.    Unless  the  chapter  was  short,  it  was  divided 
{    into  sections,  of  which  a  brief  and  edifying  explana- 
tion was  given. 

After  the  exposition  some  part  of  a  psalm  was 
,    sung :  every  one  had  a  book ;  and  so  neither  the 
5    sense  nor  the  melody  was  interrupted  by  reading 
•    line  by  line.    "  How  the  houses  of  the  good  old 
Protestants  were  perfumed  with  this  mcense  daily, 

I 


180 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


especially  on  Lord's  days,  we,"  says  Mr.  Henry, 
"  have  heard  with  our  ears,  and  our  fathers  have 
told  us."  And  he  did  what  he  could  to  perpetuate 
this  pleasant  state  of  things. 

Prayer  succeeded  singing.  The  whole  service 
was  usually  comprehended  within  the  space  oi"  half 
an  hour,  or  a  little  more. 

When  prayer  was  over,  his  children  received  his 
blessing,  which  he  pronounced  with  great  serious- 
ness, solemnity,  and  affection. 

On  the  Sabbath  the  same  order  was  observed  at 
family  worship  as  on  the  ordinary  days  of  the  week ; 
his  public  engagements  not  being  allowed  to  inter- 
fere either  with  the  observance  itself,  or  with  his 
own  personal  attention  to  it. 

In  the  choice  of  his  associates,  and  indeed  in  all 
his  intercourse  with  society,  Mr.  Henry  manifested 
the  caution  which  had  been  instilled  into  him  from 
infancy,  and  which  he  habitually  recommended  to 
others.  "  Those  who  profess  religion,  profess  friend- 
ship to  God :  and  is  it  not,"  he  would  say,  "a  con- 
tradiction to  that  profession,  for  us  to  make  those 
our  bosom-friends  whom  he  '  beholds  afar  off?'  To 
the  evil-doers,  we  must  say.  Depart,  Not  as  if  it 
were  unlawful  to  have  ordinary  commerce  with  the 
worst  of  men.  Then  must  we  needs  '  go  out  of  the 
world.'  We  cannot  but  have  dealings  with  them ; 
we  must  pay  civil  respects  to  them ;  but  we  must 
not  choose  and  court  them  for  our  acquaintance. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


181 


Especially,  take  heed  of  choosing  and  courting  such 
into  near  and  standing  relations.  He  that  goes  near 
the  fire,  is  in  danger ;  but  he  who  takes  fire  into  his 
bosom,  and  goes  upon  hot  coals,  is  a  madman." 
His  rule  as  to  friendship  and  acquaintance  was, 
"  few  and  good." 

Mr.  Henry  was  a  steady,  sympathizing,  and  active 
friend.  He  used  to  set  apart  some  time  to  pray  for 
his  relations  and  friends  by  name.  He  also  paid 
them  frequent  visits.  He  addressed  them  by  kind 
letters  ;  and  he  took  pleasure,  as  opportunity  served, 
in  their  company  at  his  own  house,  where  he  enter- 
tained them  with  cheerfulness.  It  was  in  such  cir- 
cumstances that  he  observed,  "  God  gives  us  leave 
to  be  cheerful ;  we  have  cause  to  be  so ;  and  are 
commanded  to  be  so." 

Yet  he  was  an  enemy  to  trifling  and  levity ;  and 
never,  for  a  moment,  confounded  happiness  with 
those  propensities.  "  True  joy,"  said  he,  "  is  a  se- 
rious thing  ;  and  that  joy  which  will  not  consist 
with  seriousness,  doth  not  become  a  man,  much  less 
a  Christian.  Christ  appeared  to  dislike  the  joy  of 
his  disciples,  even  in  the  success  of  their  ministry, 
when  they  seemed  to  be  transported  with  it.  In 
heaven  there  is  joy,  but  no  vain  mirth." 

In  the  afflictions  of  his  friends,  he  was  literally 
afflicted.  He  incessantly  displayed  sympathy  and 
kindness  to  his  friends  in  life  ;  and  when  death  ren- 
dered intercourse  impossible,  his  unafifected  sorrow. 


\ 


182  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

and  his  readiness  to  serve  needy  survivors,  gave  to 
his  sincerity  the  fullest  demonstration. 

Mr.  Henry  was  eminent  for  diligence,  and  for  the 
improvement  of  time.  It  is  said  of  the  Waldenses 
and  Albigenses,  that  they  are  always  working,  learn- 
ing, or  teaching — a  testimony  peculiarly  applicable 
to  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

In  one  year  he  preached  two  hundred  and  eleven 
times,  besides  his  expositions  and  family  devotions. 
In  some  years  he  probably  preached  even  oftener 
than  this.  He  frequently  preached  seven  times  in 
the  course  of  a  week. 

He  possessed,  in  fact,  the  very  spirit  of  the  illus- 
trious confessors  who  have  been  just  named,  and  of 
their  rivals,  the  early  Puritans  and  non-conformists, 
his  own  forefathers  in  the  sacred  office ;  emulating 
not  only  their  inflexible  courage  and  their  untiring 
perseverance,  but  also  their  early  rising  and  their 
incessant  toil.  "Value  your  souls,"  was  a  remark 
he  sometimes  made,  "and  you  will  value  your  time. 
Whatever  you  do,  take  heed  of  idleness.  That  is 
the  devil's  anvil,  on  which  he  hammers  out  many 
temptations." 

In  advising  others,  he  would  say,  "Do  not  lose 
the  morning."  And  he  practised  as  well  as  taught. 
Like  his  divine  Master,  he  often  rose  "a  great  while 
before  day."  He  was  usually  in  his  study  at  five, 
and  sometimes  at  four  o'clock.  Here  he  remained 
till  seven  or  eight.    After  family  worship  and  break- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


183 


fast,  he  returned  till  noon  ;  and  oftentimes,  again, 
after  dinner,  till  four  in  the  afternoon.  He  then  vis- 
ited the  sick,  or  his  friends,  and  attended  to  other 
business.  In  the  evening,  after  his  family  were  dis- 
missed, and  before  he  yielded  himself  to  sleep,  he 
again  retired  to  his  study.  Concerning  sleep  he 
remarked,  that  it  "  is  God's  gift  to  those  he  loves ; 
nature  requires  it ;  grace  gives  thanks  for  it ;  but 
those  who  love  it  more  than  their  business,  when 
they  should  love  it  only  in  order  to  their  business, 
expose  themselves  to  a  great  deal  of  sin." 

In  his  diary  he  often  complains  of  precious  hours 
lost  in  the  company  of  those  whom  he  loved  ;  he  often 
laments  that  friends  are  the  thieves  of  time ;  and, 
on  one  occasion,  when  noticing  even  gratifying  inter- 
course with  some  of  his  brethren  and  others  whom 
he  highly  esteemed,  he  says,  "  I  would  not,  for  any 
thing,  live  such  a  life  for  a  few  days  together.  I  am 
always  best  when  alone.  No  place  is  like  my  own 
study :  no  company  like  good  books,  especially  the 
book  of  God."  "When  I  lose  time  at  home,"  he 
said,  "  I  wish  I  was  abroad  preaching ;  when  time 
abroad  is  not  filled  up  as  it  should  be,  I  wish  myself 
at  home  studying.  God,  by  his  grace,  help  me  to 
Jill  up  time — to  be  busy  while  working-time  lasts." 

Mr.  Henry  cultivated  Christian  love.  He  accus- 
tomed himself  to  contemplate  true  believers,  not- 
withstanding a  difference  of  views  about  lesser 
things,  as  having  access  through  Christ,     by  one 


184 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Spirit,  unto  the  Father."  "  There'''  he  would  say, 
*'is  the  centre  of  the  saints'  unity — 'one  in  us,'" 
alluding  to  John  17:21;  "not  one  in  the  pope,  or  a 
general  council,  but  one  in  God  and  Christ." 

Alluding  to  the  prospect  of  an  interview  with  a 
friend  as  yet  personally  unknown,  he  thus  beautifully 
expressed  the  habitual  temper  of  his  mind  :  This  is 
not  the  world  we  are  to  be  together  in ;  but  there  is 
such  a  world  before  us,,  where  we  '  shall  be  together 
for  ever,  and  with  the  Lord.'  To  the  general  assem- 
bly of  the  church  of  the  first-born,  which  are  written 
in  heaven,  we  are  already  come  in  faith  and  hope ;  by 
virtue  of  which  we  meet  daily  at  the  same  throne  of 
grace,  and  have  comfort  in  a  spiritual  communion 
with  '  all  that  in  every  place  call  on  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord,  both  theirs  and  ours.'  This  is  an 
earnest  of  that  blissful  state  in  which  we  shall  be 
with  all  the  saints,  none  but  saints,  and  saints  '  made 
perfect ;'  where  Luther  and  Calvin  are  both  of  a 
mind.  God  keep  us  'looking  for  that  blessed 
hope.'  " 

He  regarded  all  believers  as  ''saints;"  and  al- 
though, in  compliance  with  custom,  or  in  accommo- 
dation to  current  prejudices,  he  often  prefixed  the 
epithet  "saint"  before  the  name  of  an  evangelist  or 
an  apostle,  yet  he  preferred  its  disuse. 

For  the  reputation  of  others,  especially  of  God's 
faithful  servants,  he  uniformly  observed  a  particular 
tenderness.    Indeed,  he  had  been  trained  to  this 


REV.  xMATTHEW  HENRY. 


185 


from  his  infancy.  His  excellent  father  was  famous 
for  a  steady  opposition  to  "  evil-speaking ;"  and 
\seems  to  have  taken  pains  to  infuse  into  all  around 
him  the  same  spirit.  He  (Philip  Henry)  would  tell 
his  children  of  a  gentleman  whose  custom  it  was, 
when  he  came  into  the  company  of  such  of  the  un- 
godly as  were  likely  to  utter  reproaches  against  the 
-  Puritans,  to  inform  them  beforehand,  "  Sirs,  I  desire 
you  to  take  notice,  I  am  one  of  those  you  call  Puri- 
tans ;  and  therefore,  if  you  like  my  company,  and 
mean  I  should  stay  with  you,  pray  forbear  talking 
evil  of  them,  for  I  cannot  away  with  it."  And  the 
good  man  noticed,  with  evident  satisfaction,  how 
much  sin  was  thus  prevented. 

And  the  son  did  honor  to  his  progenitor  in  this, 
as  well  as  in  many  other  respects.  He  was  sparing 
of  his  words  in  reference  to  character,  candid  towards 
his  absent  brethren,  and  as  deaf  as  an  adder  to  whis- 
perers and  tattlers.  Sometimes  he  would  indignant- 
ly remark,  "  How  many  are  there  who  go  about  as 
talebearers ;  in  one  place  to  pick  up  slanders,  or  to 
dig  for  them,  and  then  scatter  them  in  another.  Look 
upon  such,"  he  would  add,  'f  as  incendiaries.  Avoid 
them  as  you  would  those  who  should  attempt  to  set 
fire  to  your  clothes." 

Unless  he  felt  imperatively  called  to  other  duties, 
Mr.  Henry  uniformly  contented  himself  with  deduc- 
ing from  the  misconduct  of  others  an  incitement  to 
prayer  and  circumspection.  After  noticing  a  circum- 


186 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


stance  in  reference  to  one  of  his  ministerial  brethren 
which  occasioned  him  grief  and  surprise,  he  merely 
says,  "  The  Lord  give  us  wisdom,  and  watchfulness, 
and  resolution.  It  is  dangerous  to  begin  sinful  fa- 
miliarities." 

Christian  candor  was  a  virtue  which  contributed, 
in  no  small  degree,  to  adorn  Mr.  Henry's  character. 
He  records  it  as  an  occasion  of  comfort  to  himself, 
that  he  felt  able  truly  to  say,  that  he  was  far  from 
lessening  any  man's  excellences,  either  with  regard 
to  intellectual  or  moral  qualities,  on  account  of  his 
differing  from  him.  And  he  nobly  advised  others  to 
delight  in  the  holy  generosity  of  speaking  well  of 
those  who  might  differ  from  them.  Yet  he  was  not 
indifferent  about  error ;  nor  did  he  ever  hesitate,  upon 
proper  occasions,  to  make  an  open  avowal  of  his 
sentiments ;  always  avoiding  bitterness,  indeed,  but 
speaking  unequivocally,  and  without  fear. 

The  esteem  which  he  cherished  for  all  pious  con- 
formists, was  very  cordial  and  very  exemplary.  He 
loved  them  as  brethren  in  Christ  Jesus.  He  would 
sometimes  say,  "  I  hate  to  see  religion  and  the  church 
monopolized  ;  as  if  Christ  took  his  measures  from 
our  little  fancies  and  opinions.  Those  I  call  Chris- 
tians, not  who  are  of  this  or  that  party,  but  who 
call  upon  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  those, 
whatever  dividing  name  they  are  known  by,  who 
live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly,  in  this  world. 
The  question,  by  and  by,  will  not  be,  in  what  place 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


187 


or  what  posture  we  worshipped  God,  but,  did  we 
worship  in  the  Spirit."  The  attachment  which  he 
cherished  for  the  principles  of  non-conformity,  re- 
sulting, as  it  did,  from  the  most  careful  examination 
and  decided  conviction,  invested  his  candor  with 
the  most  lovely  charms.  "Grace  be  with  all  them 
who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity,"  was 
one  of  the  influential  mottos  of  his  life  and  conduct. 

And  the  moderation  which  was  conspicuous  in 
Mr.  Henry's  character,  was  not  confined  to  strictly 
religious  principles;  it  extended  itself  equally  to 
those  daily  habits  of  life,  of  a  moral  kind,  in  reference 
to  which  many  persons,  in  other  respects  wise  and 
eminent,  have  lamentably  failed.  Speaking  of  in- 
temperance, he  observed,  that  it  was  by  eating  we 
all  fell.  He  said,  "  Nothing  is  more  contrary  to  the 
profession  of  a  Christian,  than  the  life  of  an  epicure." 
x\nd  he  advised  all  to  "  take  heed  of  the  beginnings 
of  intemperance."  "  When  in  danger,  try  whether 
you  have  learned  the  first  lesson  in  Christ's  school — 
to  deny  yourselves."  Adverting  to  the  fact,  that 
there  are  those  who  are  "  mighty  to  drink  wine," 
he  remarked,  that  "it  is  rather  the  commendation 
of  a  barrel  than  of  a  man,  to  be  able  to  contain  much 
liquor."  In  short,  he  preached  and  recommended, 
both  on  this  subject  and  generally,  a  spirit  of  holy 
watchfulness — a  duty,  the  neglect  of  which,  he  said, 
"  renders  a  Christian  like  a  city  without  gates  and 
bars." 


188 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


The  same  principle  also  discovered  itself  in  him 
in  reference  to  worldly  possessions  and  acquirements. 
Even  lawful  comforts  were  used  by  him  with  indif- 
ference, as  one  whose  affections  were  "  set  on  things 
above."  He  observed,  "We  see  present  things  ;  but 
we  must  not  look  at  them.  Herein,  surely,  consists 
the  very  life  and  power  of  religion," 

With  regard  to  money,  useful  and  valuable  as  it 
unquestionably  is  in  its  proper  place,  he  remarked, 
with  a  view  to  check  the  love  of  it,  that  it  "  has  no 
currency  in  the  other  world.  The  great  day,"  he 
said,  "  will  burn  up  all  those  things  upon  which  men 
now  set  their  hearts." 

It  grieved  him  to  see  professed  Christians  living 
as  though  their  happiness  were  bound  up  in  the 
creature.  W^hen  viewing  the  worldliness  of  the 
church,  he  said,  "  Many  people  think  that  there  is 
no  harm  in  spending  upon  themselves,  if  they  can 
afford  it ;  little  considering  how  greatly  the  precious 
soul  is  hereby  wronged."  And  he  advised  all  such 
persons  to  "  lay  out  no  more  in  the  repairs  of  their 
cottage  than  will  be  allowed  in  their  accounts,"  al- 
luding to  the  final  judgment. 

Whenever  he  perceived  any  "  angry  at  those  who 
stood  in  their  light,"  or,  in  other  words,  envious  and 
jealous,  he  thought  it  a  sign  that  the  things  which 
''are  seen  and  temporal"  were  most  looked  at.  And 
"  will  you,"  he  inquired,  "who  are  hoping  for  treas- 
ure in  heaven,  pant  after  the  dust  of  the  earth  ?" 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


189 


An  incident  occurred  after  Mr.  Henry's  removal 
to  Hackney,  wbicli  places  the  view  which  has  been 
given  of  this  part  of  his  character  in  an  interesting 
hght ;  and  the  record  having  been  written  by  him- 
self at  the  time,  prevents  misconception,  and  renders 
a  doubt  of  its  truth  impossible.  It  is  taken  from  his 
diary  and  original  manuscript,  and  is  as  follows. 

"  March  8,  1713.  Lord's  day.  In  the  evening  I 
went  to  London.  I  preached  Mr.  Rosewell's  even- 
ing lecture.  Psalm  89  :  15  :  "The  joyful  sound." 
As  I  came  home,  I  was  robbed.  The  thieves  took 
from  me  about  ten  or  eleven  shillings.  My  remarks 
upon  it  were,  1.  What  reason  have  I  to  be  thankful 
to  God,  who  have  travelled  so  much,  and  yet  was 
never  robbed  before.  2.  What  a  deal  of  evil  the 
love  of  money  is  the  root  of,  that  four  men  would 
venture  their  lives  and  souls  for  about  half  a  crown 
apiece.  3.  See  the  jwwer  of  Sfttan  in  the  children 
of  disobedience.  4.  See  the  vanity  of  worldly 
wealth  ;  how  soon  we  may  be  stripped  of  it.  How 
loose,  therefore,  should  we  sit  to  it." 

From  his  moderation  in  reference  to  the  ''life  that 
now  is,"  it  would  be  wrong  to  infer  that  he  was 
negligent  of  his  temporal  affairs,  or  that  he  encour- 
aged others  either  in  indolence  or  neglect.  The  rule 
by  which  he  was  regulated  himself,  and  which  he 
recommended  to  others,  was  this — not  to  be  idle,  or 
careless,  or  prodigal,  but  graciously  indifferent;  in 
allusion  to  Matt.  6  :  25-34. 


190 


BIEMOIR  OF  THE 


In  early  life,  he  embraced  it  as  a  maxim,  that  the 
prudent  Christian  will  be  a  prosperous  Christian;" 
and  therefore  he  diligently  applied  himself  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  habit  of  prudence,  and  endeavored 
habitually  to  guide  his  affairs  with  discretion.  His 
caution,  indeed,  often  subjected  him  to  reproach ; 
but  he  had  the  satisfaction  by  it,  of  being  kept  out 
of  diflBculties,  and  preserved  from  the  necessity  of 
making  humiliating  concessions.  Every  eye  within 
the  circle  of  his  acquaintance  looked  to  him  for 
direction  and  counsel.  His  advice  was  given  with 
familiarity  and  minuteness ;  and,  in  addition  to  that 
sound  instruction  to  which  his  great  sagacity  and 
long  experience  contributed,  he  usually  quoted  some 
appropriate  portion  of  Scripture  to  bear  upon  the 
subject. 

When  Christians  were  afflicted  or  perplexed,  he 
was  far  from  encourauin^  them  in  the  induljjence  of 
gloomy  apprehensions,  but  studiously  pointed  out 
the  evil  of  such  a  course,  and  allured  their  attention 
heavenward.  In  such  circumstances  he  would  say, 
**  Let  not  one  affliction  drown  the  sense  of  a  thousand 
mercies.  Our  great  duty  is,  to  trust  in  God,  to  com- 
mit our  v^'ay  to  him  ;  and  when  our  fears  take  us  off 
from  that,  so  that  we  cannot  find  in  our  hearts  to  let 
him  dispose  of  us,  they  are  sinful.  Prevailing  fears 
are  briars  and  thorns,  which  choke  many  a  good 
duty." 

He  never  failed  to  remind  his  friends,  that  God 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRV. 


191 


has  promised  to  direct  the  steps  of  those  who  ia 
"all  their  ways  acknowledge  him:"  and  therefore  he 
iiniforraly  and  pressingly  commended  attendance  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  especially  in  seasons  of  distress. 
Sometimes  he  expressed  the  pleasure  which  those 
visits  afforded  him,  in  which  his  friends  requested 
him  to  pray  with  them.  And  however  agreeable 
the  company  which  he  met  on  such  occasions  might 
be,  or  however  excellent  the  entertainment,  if  a  sep- 
aration took  place  without  united  prayer,  he  felt  both 
uncomfortable  and  disappointed.  Such  an  occur- 
rence, on  one  occasion,  is  recorded  by  him  very 
mournfully.  Most  of  his  particular  fiiends  loved 
prayer ;  for  they  had  been  trained  to  the  enriching 
practice.  If  any  drew  near  to  an  hour  of  sorrow ; 
if  any  journey  was  in  prospect ;  if  any  affair  of  con- 
sequence was  to  be  managed  ;  if  any  child  was  to  be 
apprenticed,  or  otherwise  to  be  disposed  of,  it  was 
usual  with  them  to  commit  all  to  God,  not  only  in 
their  closets  and  famihes,  but  also  with  their  minis- 
ters. In  this  good  old  way "  Mr.  Henry  found, 
and  encouraged  them ;  nor  did  any  circumstances  of 
meanness  or  poverty  prevent  his  personal  concur- 
'  >^nce.    "  How  sweet  a  thing  it  is,"  he  would  say, 

to  pi"ay,  minding  a  particular  errand." 
Mr.  Henry  endeavored  to  enforce,  both  upon  him- 
-  ;lf  and  others,  such  sentiments  as  were  calculated 

J  promote  a  charitable  disposition.  "We  lose," 
suid  he,  "what  we  save.    Withholding  that  which 


193 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


is  meet  tends  to  spiritual  poverty — the  worst  of  all 
husbandry.  It  is  like  grudging  seed  to  the  ground." 
As  occasion  served,  he  plainly  pointed  out  the  great 
evil  of  covetousness.  Sometimes  he  urged  upon  all 
around  him  their  exposure  to  that  sin,  and  advised 
them  to  suspect  themselves  guilty  of  it.  "  We  are 
born,"  said  he,  with  the  world  in  our  hearts." 
Perceiving  that  many  think  themselves  not  covet- 
ous because  they  are  content  with  what  they  have," 
he  added,  in  allusion  to  the  parable,  "  so  was  that 
fool." 

In  the  exercise  of  benevolence,  Mr.  Henry  remem- 
bered the  example  of  Him  who  "  maketh  his  sun  to 
rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and  sendeth  rain  on 
the  just  and  on  the  unjust."  Like  the  children  of 
the  Highest,  therefore,  he  was  "  kind  to  the  unthank- 
ful and  to  the  evil."  After  lending  seven  guineas  to 
obtain  a  discharge  for  the  son  of  a  poor  friend  who 
had  enlisted,  he  observed  that  many  reasons  offered 
themselves  why  he  should  have  abandoned  him ; 
**but,"  he  adds — and  it  is  a  fine  development  of 
genuine  Christianity — "  the  mercy  of  God  to  me,  a 
provoking,  backsliding  sinner,  answered  them  all. 
God  doth  not  cut  men  off,  though,  by  their  iniquity, 
they  have  sold  themselves." 

Humility  was  a  characteristic  of  Mr.  Henry's 
mind.  "  I  am  come  to  the  close  of  another  year," 
he  remarked  at  the  end  of  1691,  "but  my  works 
have  not  been  filled  up ;  there  are  many  empty 


rev;  MATTHEW  HENRV. 


193 


spaces  in  my  time,  and  in  my  duties  mucli  amiss ; 
little  done,  little  gained  for  my  soul,  though  much 
mercy  received,  yet  my  talents  have  not  been  traded 
with  aright.  It  is  the  blood  of  Christ  that  must  set 
all  straight  between  me  and  my  God.  There  I  rest 
my  precious  soul." 

On  one  occasion,  when  advising  others  on  this 
subject,  he  thus  expressed  his  own  sentiments  and 
the  teachings  of  the  word  of  God :  "  Run  up  all 
the  streams  to  the  fountain.  Every  crown  must  be 
cast  before  the  throne,  and  every  song  sung  to  that 
humble  tune — '  Not  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not  unto  us, 
but  unto  tliy  name  give  glory,  for  thy  mercy  and  for 
thy  truth's  sake.'  God  plants  the  trees  of  right- 
eousness, that  he  may  be  glorified." 

*'Doth  it,"  he  would  inquire,  "become  us  to  be 
proud,  when  our  Master  was  so  humble  ?"  "  Read 
the  lives  of  the  eminent  saints  who  are  gone,  and 
see  how  far  you  come  short  of  their  gifts,  and  graces, 
and  performances,  and  usefulness  ;  and  you  will 
rather  blush  than  be  proud." 

After  a  season  of  communion  with  the  Lord  at  his 
table,  his  earnest  desires  were  thus  recorded :  "I 
begged  and  promised,  with  the  cup  of  blessing — 
humility,  humility.  The  Lord  keep  it  in  the  imag- 
ination of  the  thought  of  my  heart." 

For  the  movements  of  pride  he  made  no  allow- 
ances. He  viewed  haughtiness  as  transgression 
against  both  the  law  and  the  Gospel.    "  The  design 

Matthew  Henry. 


194 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


of  each  of  those,"  he  said,  "is  to  humble  us:  the 
former,  by  convincing  us  of  sin ;  the  latter,  by 
making  us  entirely  beholden  to  Jesus  Christ  for  life 
and  happiness."  And  he  endeavored  personally  to 
cultivate  in  himself  what  he  constantly  recommend- 
ed to  others.  This  is  seen  by  the  manner  in  which 
he  marked  and  bewailed  faults  and  infirmities  in 
himself  which  others  could  not  perceive ;  and  this, 
not  publicly,  in  ostentation,  but  in  the  retirement  of 
the  closet,  for  purposes  the  most  devout  and  im- 
proving. The  reader  is  furnished  with  a  few  in- 
stances. 

After  forming  a  catalogue  of  his  library,  he  writes, 
"  I  am  not  so  much  ashamed  that  I  have  so  few  books, 
and  so  little  choice,  as  that  I  have  not  profited  more 
by  those  I  have." 

"I  have  reason  to  lament  my  slothfulness,  my 
distractions  in  prayer,  and  the  coldness  of  my  zeal 
for  God." 

"  0  what  reason  have  I  to  mourn  over  my  dul- 
ness  and  deadness,  and  that  I  am  not  more  affected 
myself  with  those  things  of  God  with  which  I  desire 
to  affect  others." 

"  I  studied  for  to-morrow  in  much  weakness.  I 
am  compassed  about  with  infirmity." 

"  A  trifling  world  and  a  trifling  heart,  are  my  great 
grievances." 

Sentiments  like  these  not  only  evince  the  depth, 
and  reality,  and  genuineness  of  his  humility,  but 


REV.  MATTHEW  HExNRV. 


195 


they  read  to  others  important  lessons  of  instruction. 
If  he  deplored  so  many  evils,  and  those  from  which, 
in  the  sight  of  his  fellow- Christians,  he  appeared 
most  free,  what  must  be  the  condition  of  multitudes 
who  arrogate  the  very  excellences  themselves,  with 
no  better  pretensions  than  are  furnished  by  their 
own  deluded  fancy ;  having,  at  the  utmost,  to  boast 
of  the  appearance  only  ? 

Mr.  Henry's  general  deportment  exhibited  the 
same  lowly,  yet  elevating  principles.  He  walked 
humbly  before  God  and  man ;  and  the  more  so,  in 
proportion  to  the  smiles  and  caresses  which  he  re- 
ceived. It  was  a  maxim  with  him,  which  he  recom- 
mended to  the  attention  of  others,  "  When  the  wind 
of  applause  blows  fresh  and  strong,  then  steer  with 
a  steady  hand." 

Writing  to  a  "dear  and  honored  friend,"  who  had 
addressed  a  letter  of  encouragement  to  him  respect- 
ing his  exposition  of  the  Scriptures,  he  says,  The 
opinion  of  one  of  your  judgment,  learning,  and  piety, 
as  it  is  a  temptation  to  pride,  (against  which  I  desire 
your  prayers,  that  I  may  have  grace  always  to  stand 
upon  my  guard,)  so  it  is  improvable,  also,  as  a  spur 
to  industry ;  and  as  such  I  desire  to  make  use  of  it. 
I  hope  you  will  assist  me  in  giving  thanks  to  God 
for  his  assistance  hitherto.  Sure  I  have  nothing  to 
boast  of.  What  have  I  that  I  have  not  received  ? 
I  am  unworthy  to  be  thus  employed.  Continue  your 
prayers  for  me,  that  I  may  be  carried  on  in  it  in  a 


196 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


humble  dependence  upon  divine  grace.  Every  page, 
sir,  is  a  child  of  prayer,  and  still  must  be  so,  or  it 
will  miscarry." 

After  a  journey,  in  which  mercy  had  surrounded 
him,  he  writes,  "  I  have  not  been  exercised  with  the 
reproaches  of  enemies,  but  with  a  more  difficult 
temptation  from  my  friends — undeserved  respects. 
The  Lord  carry  me  safe  through  evil  report  and 
good  report."  And  another  time,  in  similar  cir- 
cumstances of  respectful  attention,  he  adds,  "I 
am  ashamed  to  think  how  unworthy  I  am  of  it." 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  Mr.  Henry's  humble- 
ness of  mind  was  intimately  associated  with  an  abid- 
ing perception  of  his  necessity  of  divine  influence, 
both  to  help  and  prosper  him.  "  I  have  as  much 
need,"  he  wrote,  of  the  grace  of  God  to  furnish 
me  with  a  heart  to  my  work,  as  with  a  head  for  it ; 
to  continue  my  dehght  in  it,  as  much  as  to  give  me 
ability  for  it." 

Again  he  wrote,  "From  God  is  my  fruit  found; 
nor  can  I  bring  forth  the  fruit,  unless  I  abide  in 
Christ.  Therefore,  whatever  opportunities  I  may 
have  of  doing  or  getting  good,  I  depend  upon  his 
grace  to  enable  me  to  improve  them,  and  to  do  the 
work  of  the  year  in  the  year.  I  depend  upon  that 
grace  to  enable  me  to  go  on  with  my  present  ser- 
vices, both  in  my  study  and  in  my  ministerial  work ; 
and  if  I  should  be  called  out  to  any  duties  or  suflfer- 
ings  unforeseen,  I  depend  upon  the  grace  of  God 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


197 


to  strengthen  me  for  tliem,  and,  in  every  thing,  to 
guide  my  way." 

Contemplating  persons  whom  he  could  not  but 
regard  as  "  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,"  and  for 
whose  conversion  he  longed,  he  said,  "  I  know  the 
great  difficulty  lies  in  conviction  ;  and  Eloi,  my  God, 
is  he  who  must  do  it.  It  is  *  the  Spirit  of  truth' 
who  must  convince." 

Mr.  Henry  inculcated  and  cultivated  a  spirit  of 
patient  submission  under  trials.  He  remarked,  that 
"  affliction  is  the  discipline  of  God's  school,  whereby 
his  children  are  trained  up  in  the  way  in  which  they 
should  go.  And  it  is  necessary :  as  needful  as 
weeding  is  to  a  garden,  as  pruning  to  the  vine,  as 
physic  to  the  body."  "  Do  not  expect,"  he  would 
say,  "  to  find  it  all  carpet-way  to  heaven."  He  ob- 
served, nevertheless,  that  "  though  the  weather  may 
be  foul,  and  the  ways  dirty,  home  is  not  far  off ;  and 
all  is  quiet  and  well  there." 

Enumerating  the  advantages  of  affliction,  he  men- 
tioned penitence,  patience,  thankfulness,  a  thought- 
ful frame  of  mind,  watchfulness  against  sin,  weaning 
from  the  world,  activity  in  faith,  affection  in  prayer, 
a  spirit  of  compliance  with  God's  word,  compassion 
to  our  brethren,  love  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  longing 
for  heaven.  How  can  we  help  loving  Christ," 
said  he,  "  when  we  find  his  ffrace  working  in  us ; 
his  comforts  delighting  our  souls ;  his  blood  a  heal- 
ing balm,  a  reviving  cordial !    And  as  to  heaven,  we 


198 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


have  crosses  in  our  way  that  vre  may  tcisk  for  it. 
Stormy  weather  makes  the  harbor  desirable." 

He  compared  murmuring  to  squeezing  wormwood 
into  the  bitter  cup. 

In  his  estimate  of  afflictions  he  took  a  wide  range  ; 
and  noticed  sometimes  the  condition  of  the  Psalmist, 
as  fully  descriptive  of  the  circumstances  of  the  peo- 
ple of  God  in  general.  They  are  "  plagued  and 
chastened  " — not  lightly  touched,  but  plagued — with 
strokes  sharp  and  heavy.  And  he  observed,  that 
the  word  chasten  had  reference  to  offences,  to  faults 
committed,  which  consideration  should  silence  all 
complaints. 

He  recommended  afflicted  persons  to  search  ear- 
nestly after  the  procuring  cause,  for  "  the  particular 
sin,  the  Achan  that  troubles  the  camp,  the  Jonah 
that  raises  the  storm.  See,"  he  said,  "if  the  afflic- 
tion have  not  the  inscription  of  the  crime  over  it ; 
and  if  you  cannot  find  out  the  particular  sin,  do  as 
Herod  did  by  the  infants — destroy  all.  This  will 
answer  the  end." 

To  guard  against  improper  inferences  from  an 
afflicted  condition,  particularly  in  cases  where  indi- 
gence was  associated  with  affliction,  he  would  ob- 
serve, citing  Eccles.  9:1,  2,  that  "divine  love  is 
not  to  be  inferred  from  adversity  any  more  than 
from  prosperity.  A  man  may  live  a  miserable  life 
in  this  world,  and  yet  live  a  much  more  miserable 
one  in  the  other.    Those  who  have  nothing  else  to 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


199 


sliow  for  their  hope  of  heaven  but  their  afflictions, 
deceive  themselves.  God  needs  not  raake  any  man 
happy  in  the  other  world,  to  make  him  amends  for 
wrong  done  to  him  in  this."  Nevertheless,  he  re- 
marked, "  Afflictions  are  good  tokens ;  signs  that 
God  has  not  left  us ;  that  his  Spirit  has  not  done 
striving  with  us ;  and,  when  sanctified,  they  are 
tokens  of  God's  love." 

Mr.  Henry  was  no  stranger  himself  to  the  truth 
of  an  observation  once  made  by  his  revered  father, 
when  recovering  from  sickness :  namely,  this,  "  Six 
things  are  a  salve  for  every  sore — Christ,  a  good 
conscience,  the  promises,  patience,  prayer,  and 
heaven  in  foretaste." 

At  a  time  when  Mr.  Henry  was  seized  with  vio- 
lent pain,  which  "  presently  grew  extreme,  and  con- 
tinued all  the  afternoon  without  the  least  intermis- 
sion or  remission,"  he  writes — and  it  excellently 
shows  the  habitual  composure  of  his  spirit  under 
sorrow — "  I  bless  God  I  had  much  inward  comfort, 
calling  upon  him,  and  applying  the  promises ;  and 
he  supported  me.  My  friends  visited  me,  and  sym- 
pathized with  me,  for  which  I  bless  God.  But  the 
ffi-eat  support  is,  that  Christ  bore  our  sicknesses ;  so 
that  there  is  no  sting  in  them.  0  that  tribulation 
might  work  patience." 

In  sufferings  of  another  kind,  also,  he  manifested 
the  same  happy  state  of  mind.  When  maligned 
and  reproached,  he  aspired,  with  intense  solicitude. 


200 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


after  meekness  and  patience  ;  and  instead  of  render- 
ing evil  for  evil,  requited  it  with  good  ;  ever  seeking 
to  improve  such  occurrences  for  his  own  advance- 
ment in  Christian  virtue.  How  pleasant  it  is,"  he 
would  say,  "to  have  the  bird  in  the  bosom  sing 
sweet." 

Mr.  Henry's  piety  towards  God,  and  his  devo- 
tional habits,  formed  the  basis  of  his  exalted  char- 
acter, and  of  his  eminent  attainments.  He  pre- 
scribed rules  alike  for  his  own  guidance  and  for  the 
instruction  of  others,  which  are  well  worthy  of  study 
and  attention.    They  are  as  follows  : 

"  1.  We  should  mind  that  first  and  most,  which 
is  most  needful.  It  is  not  needful  that  we  be  rich 
and  great  in  the  world,  but  it  is  needful  that  we 
should  have  the  favor  of  God,  an  interest  in  Christ, 
and  a  new  nature. 

2.  We  should  serve  and  please  him  by  whom 
we  live,  and  without  whom  we  cannot  subsist.  Of 
two  evils,  the  least  is  to  be  chosen ;  we  should, 
therefore,  choose  affliction  rather  than  iniquity. 

"3.  Great  pains  are  well  bestowed  where  great 
gains  are  expected.  And  do  we  not  look  for  a  king- 
dom which  cannot  be  moved  ?  When  we  grow  dull, 
and  slothful,  and  indifferent,  think — Do  I  work  now 
as  one  that  is  working  for  heaven  ?  Is  this  running, 
striving,  wrestling  ? 

"4.  It  is  good  to  be  sure  in  matters  of  conse- 
quence ;  great  things  should  not  be  left  at  uncer- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEXRY. 


201 


tainties.  And  when  our  precious  souls  are  at  stake, 
should  we  not  make  sure  work  ?  build  upon  a  rock  ? 

"  5.  We  should  provide  most  carefully  for  that 
state  which  is  to  be  of  the  longest  continuance.  We 
know  and  believe  we  must  be  someiohere  for  ever ; 
and  reason  teaches  us  to  lay  up  in  store  for  the 
*time  to  come.'  We  all  profess  to  believe  the  'life 
everlasting,'  but  do  we  indeed  believe  it?  There  is 
more  of  practical  atheism,  deism,  infidelity,  and 
sadduceeism,  among  us  than  we  are  aware  of. 

"  6.  We  should  be  concerned  to  do  that  at  the 
present  time,  which  must  be  done  sometime,  or  we 
are  undone  to  all  eternity." 

To  the  practice  of  prayer  Mr.  Henry  unceasingly 
addicted  himself ;  and  he  thanked  God  for  the 
frequent  occasions  he  had  for  the  exercise  of  this 
sweet  and  precious  duty."  "I  love  prayer,"  said 
he.  "  It  is  that  which  buckles  on  all  the  Christian's 
armor."  On  this  topic  he  said,  "  0  that  in  it  I 
might  be  inward  with  God.  What  incomes  of 
grace,  and  peace,  and  glory,  yea,  and  outward 
good  things,  as  far  as  they  are  indeed  good  for  us, 
have  we  by  our  access  to  God  in  Christ.  Such  have 
a  companion  ready  in  all  their  solitudes ;  a  counsel- 
lor in  all  their  doubts ;  a  comforter  in  all  their  sor- 
rows ;  a  supply  in  all  their  wants ;  a  support  under 
all  their  burdens ;  a  shelter  in  all  their  dangers ; 
strength  for  all  their  performances ;  and  salvation 
insured  by  a  sweet  and  undeceiving  earnest.  What 


202 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


is  heaven  but  an  everlasting  access  to  God  ?  And 
present  access  to  him  is  a  pledge  of  it." 

In  Mr.  Henry's  case,  no  journey  was  undertaken, 
nor  any  subject  or  course  of  sermons  entered  upon ; 
no  book  committed  to  the  press,  nor  any  trouble 
apprehended,  or  felt,  without  a  particular  applica- 
tion to  the  mercy-seat  for  direction,  assistance,  and 
success.  It  was  his  joy  that  the  throne  of  grace 
is  always  open.  "  I  would  not,"  said  he — and  he 
was  in  distressing  circumstances  when  the  remark 
was  made — "  I  would  not  bring  the  cares  of  my 
family  into  the  mount  of  communion  with  God,  to 
distract  me  there ;  yet  I  have  leave  to  bring  them 
to  present  them  before  the  Lord,  and  to  leave  them 
with  him ;  and  with  him  I  have  left  them."  In  a 
letter  to  one  of  his  friends,  he  said,  *'  If  there  be 
any  comfort  in  this  troublesome  world,  it  is  in  com- 
munion with  God  by  the  word  and  prayer.  There 
we  may  have  sweet  foretastes  of  the  pleasures  of 
the  everlasting  rest." 

When  speaking  of  closet- prayer,  he  advised  that 
care  be  taken  against  indulging  in  any  vain-glorious 
humor.  "  Shut  the  door,"  said  he,  lest  the  wind 
of  hypocrisy  blow  in  at  it."  And  he  gave  it  as 
his  settled  and  deliberate  judgment,  that  if  secret 
prayer  be  either  neglected  or  negligently  performed, 
the  power  of  godliness  will  wither  and  decline. 

Mr.  Henry  abounded  in  holy  meditation.  And 
his  estimate  of  the  influence  of  that  duty  upon  the 


FEV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


203 


Christian  life  is  evident  from  the  earnestness  with 
which  he  pressed  Christians  to  its  performance. 
*'Take  a  walk,"  was  his  counsel,  ''every  day,  by- 
faith  and  meditation,  to  mount  Calvary.  There  is 
nothing  like  it." 

Adopting,  as  an  axiom,  the  saying  of  his  excel- 
lent father,  that  "  all  who  would  go  to  heaven  when 
they  die,  must  begin  their  heaven  while  they  live," 
he  recommended  frequent  contemplation  upon  that 
inconceivable  state.  "Dwell  upon  it,"  he  would 
say,  "  in  your  thoughts ;  set  time  apart  to  do  so. 
Look  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen.  All  we  do 
we  should  do  with  a  design  for  heaven :  pray,  and 
hear,  and  talk,  and  walk,  and  live,  and  all  for  eter- 
nal life.  Christians  are  heirs  of  salvation.  And 
how  doth  a  young  heir  please  himself  with  the 
thoughts  of  his  inheritance."  Sometimes  he  pro- 
posed such  incfuiries  as  these :  "  When  are  you 
accustomed  to  think  upon  the  heavenly  happiness  ? 
What  room  has  it  in  your  thoughts  ?  What  walks 
do  you  take  into  the  holy  city  ?  0  get  a  scripture- 
map  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  and  study  it  well." 

A  distinguishing  feature  of  Mr.  Henry's  charac- 
ter, and  one  which  essentially  promoted  its  spiritual 
maturity,  was  the  habit  which  he  indulged  of  making 
a  wise  observation  of  the  conduct  of  Providence. 
It  was  his  opinion  that  much  of  the  life  of  relig- 
ion "  lies  in  holy  adorings  of  God,  "which,"  said 
he,  "  must  be  excited,  and  cherished,  and  furnished 


204 


MEMOIR  OF  1  HE 


wilh  matter,  by  our  remarks  upon  his  pro\-idence — 
for  strengthening  our  faith — for  our  direction  in 
prayer — for  our  instruction  in  the  ordering  of  our 
conversations." 

He  sometimes  noticed  the  "  abundant  sweetness  " 
it  imparts  to  "  any  mercy,  to  see  it  growing  upon 
the  root  of  a  promise."  And  he  observed,  that  "  the 
good  things  of  the  sjiints  are  not  dispensed  out  of 
the  basket  of  common  providence,  but  out  of  the 
ark  of  the  covenant."  By  this  habit  of  mind,  he 
was  led,  in  all  circumstances,  to  cherish  hope  ;  a 
duty  much  pressed  in  Scripture.  "It is  reckoned," 
said  he,  "among  a  growing  Christian's  comforts, 
Rom.  5:1,  4,  and  it  hath  no  less  a  place  among 
a  growing  Christian's  graces." 

And  hence  his  adnce  to  all  believers  was,  "Hope 
in  God.  Trust  him  as  to  all  your  outward  concerns. 
Live  a  life  of  dependence  upon  him ;  upon  his  wis- 
dom, power,  goodness,  and  promise.  Take  but  the 
exhortations  of  one  psalm  :  it  is  the  37th.  Be  satis- 
fied that  really  all  is  well,  and  shortly  it  will  appear 
well  which  he  doeth.  Be  careful,  principally,  about 
dutyT  "Shall  I,"  he  inquires,  "trust  God  with 
my  soul,  and  shall  I  not  trust  him  with  every  thing 
else  ?  Shall  I  trust  him  for  a  heaven  hereafter,  and 
shall  I  not  trust  him  for  pro^-ision  in  the  way  to  it  ?" 

Mr.  Henry  honored  the  holy  Sabbath.  He  styled 
it  not  only  "  a  day  of  rest,  but  a  day  of  work ;  the 
work  which  they  do  who  enter  into  the  everlasting 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


205 


rest."  And  his  advice  as  to  the  performance  of  its 
social  and  pubHc  duties  was  in  full  accordance. 
"  Keep  close,"  he  said,  "  to  the  God  of  grace.  Or- 
dinances are  the  golden  pipes  by  which  the  oil  of 
grace  is  conveyed.  That  holy  oil  keeps  the  lamp  of 
hope  burning ;  therefore  David  desires  to  dwell  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  his  life.  Let 
sanctuary  privileges  make  you  long  to  be  within  the 
veil." 

Commemorating  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  his 
second  marriage,  he  noticed  that  he  and  Mrs.  Henry 
had  enjoyed  together  a  thousand  Sabbaths ;  and  he 
testified  that  they  were  the  most  comfortable  of  their 
days. 

He  uniformly  maintained  that  the  design  of  the 
Sabbath  is  "  holiness ;  a  distinction  between  that 
which  is  common  and  that  which  is  sacred ;  that  it 
is  a  divine  institution,  and  not  a  human  invention ; 
that  it  is  God's  time,  and  not  our  own ;  that  the 
whole  day  is  holy  to  the  Lord,  and  not  church-time 
only ;  that  God  is  jealous  concerning  his  Sabbaths  ; 
and  that  care  to  sanctify  them  is  a  part  of  the  char- 
acter of  a  good  Christian." 

"  Prepare  for  the  Sabbath  before  it  comes.  Re- 
member it.  We  read  in  the  Gospel  of  the  prepara- 
tion— that  is,  the  day  before  the  Sabbath. 

"See  that  nothing  be  done  on  the  Lord's  day 
which  might  as  well  have  been  done  the  day  before. 
God  is  gracious  in  his  allowances ;  let  us  not  abuse 


206 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


our  liberty.  You  cannot  expect  things  should  fall 
as  it  were  to  be  desired  they  should,  unless  you 
contrive  them.  Review  the  six  days'  work  as  God 
did.  You  will  find  all  very  bad.  Renew  repent- 
ance. *  I  w^ill  wash  my  hands  in  innocency  ;  so  will 
I  compass  thine  altar,  0  Lord.' 

"  Begin  the  day  with  good  thoughts ;  w^ake  with 
God ;  bid  the  Sabbath  welcome ;  go  forth  to  meet 
it ;  think  of  Christ's  resurrection  ;  think  of  his  wak- 
ing earli/  in  the  morning. 

"  Set  God  before  you  in  all  your  Sabbath  work. 
Do  it  as  unto  the  Lord.  See  his  eye  upon  you,  and 
let  your  eye  be  upon  him.  It  is  the  Sabbath  of  the 
Lord  your  God ;  from  him  you  are  to  hear ;  to  him 
you  are  to  speak ;  it  is  he  with  whom  you  have  to 
do  every  day,  especially  this  day. 

"  Fill  up  Sabbath  time  with  duty.  Be  good  hus- 
bands of  it.  Redeem  it — lose  no  part  of  it — it  is 
all  precious.  Instruct  your  families  in  the  things 
of  God.  You  would  not  starve  their  bodies,  do  not 
starve  their  souls.  Pray  with  them.  Let  them  not 
be  doing  your  work  when  they  should  be  doing- 
God's,  further  than  necessity  requires.  By  mild  and 
gentle  reproofs  restrain  them  as  much  as  possible 
from  that  which  is  evil.  Let  there  be  a  manifest 
difference  between  that  day  and  other  days  in  your 
houses.  Go  from  one  duty  to  another  as  a  bee  from 
flower  to  flower.  Remember  the  nature  of  the  work, 
the  necessity  and  excellency  of  it.    Sabbaths  come 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


au7 


but  seldom ;  therefore  be  busy.  Let  all  that  is 
within  you  be  at  work,  like  all  hands  on  a  harvest- 
day  ;  attend  to  secret,  family,  and  public  ordinances. 
Be  more  mild  than  on  other  days.  Show  that  you 
have  laid  by  the  world.  Keep  it  holy  by  employ- 
ing it  in  holy  work,  or  else  you  keep  the  Sabbath  no 
better  than  the  brutes  for  they  rest.  Holy  work  is 
to  be  done  every  day,  but  on  this  day  it  must^  be 
the  work  of  the  day. 

"  Do  common  actions  on  that  day  after  a  godly 
sort.  Feed  the  body  that  it  may  be  fit  to  serve  the 
soul.  Take  care  it  be  not  w?zfitted.  Eat  and  drink 
as  those  who  must  pray  again.  Works  of  necessity 
must  be  done  with  a  Sabbath  frame  of  heart.  Pray 
against  that  which  may  take  you  off  from  your  Sab- 
bath work.  Remember  Christ  allows  us  to  do  ffood 
on  the  Sabbath-day. 

"  Be  much  in  praise.  Rejoice  in  the  resurrection 
of  Christ.    Sing  psalms. 

Carry  the  Sabbath  with  you  into  the  week. 
Let  it  relish  with  all  your  converse.  You  have 
many  thoughts  of  the  world  on  Sabbath-days,  have 
as  many  thoughts  of  God  on  week-days. 

Every  Sabbath-day  think  much  of  heaven. 
Have  it  in  your  mind — have  it  in  your  eye.  That  is 
the  general  assembly.    Get  ready  for  it." 


208 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

His  commencement  of  the  Exposition — List  of  its  continua- 
tors — Remarks  made  in  his  diary  during  the  progress  of 
commenting — Opinions  of  worthy  divines  concerning  the 
Commentary — Mr.  Henry's  superlative  attachment  to  the 
Bible. 

Mr.  Henry  was  a  voluminous  writer,  A  large 
quarto  volume,  containing  his  miscellaneous  works, 
forms  a  noble  monument  of  his  piety  and  industry. 
But  the  great  work  to  which  his  studies  and  pur- 
suits had,  for  many  years,  been  chiefly  directed,  and 
that  upon  which  his  fame  chiefly  rests,  is  "  An  Ex- 
position of  the  Old  and  New  Testament:  wherein 
each  chapter  is  summed  up  in  its  contents ;  the 
sacred  text  inserted  at  large  in  distinct  paragraphs ; 
each  paragraph  reduced  to  its  proper  heads ;  the 
sense  given,  and  largely  illustrated ;  with  practical 
remarks  and  observations,"  This  work  was  begun 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1704,  The  following 
is  his  own  brief  account  of  the  commencement  of 
this  work,  from  Mr.  Henry's  diary, 

November  12,  1704,  This  night,  after  many 
thoughts  of  heart,  and  many  prayers  concerning  it, 
I  began  my  Notes  on  the  Old  Testament.  It  is  not 
likely  I  should  live  to  finish  it,  or  if  I  should,  that 
it  should  be  of  pubhc  service,  for  I  am  not  par  ne- 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


209 


gotio,  [equal  to  the  undertaking ;]  yet  in  the  strength 
of  God,  and  I  hopfe  with  a  single  eye  to  his  glory, 
I  set  about  it,  that  I  may  endeavor  something,  and 
spend  my  time  to  some  good  purpose ;  and  let  the 
Lord  make  what  use  he  pleaseth  of  me.  I  go  about 
it  with  fear  and  trembling,  lest  I  exercise  myself  in 
things  too  high  for  me,  etc.  The  Lord  help  me  to 
set  about  it  with  great  humility." 

The  good  man's  remark,  that  he  might  not  live  to 
finish  the  great  work  which  he  thus  piously  com- 
menced, proved,  ultimately,  to  be  but  too  prophetic. 
Dr.  Watts,  in  his  copy  of  the  Exposition,  upon  a 
blank  leaf  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  volume, 
wrote  the  following  statement : 

"  The  Reverend  Mr.  Matthew  Henry,  before  his 
death,  had  made  some  small  preparations  for  this 
last  volume.  The  epistle  to  the  Romans,  indeed,  was 
explained  so  largely  by  his  own  hand,  that  it  needed 
only  the  labor  of  epitomizing.  Some  parts  of  the 
other  epistles  were  done,  but  very  imperfectly,  by 
himself ;  and  a  few  other  hints  had  been  taken  in 
shorthand  from  his  public  and  private  expositions 
on  some  of  the  epistles. 

"  By  these  assistances,  the  ministers  whose  names 
are  here  written,  have  endeavored  to  complete  this 
work  in  the  style  and  method  of  the  author :  viz. 


Romans,  ....  Mr.  [afterwards  Dr.]  John  Evans. 
1  Corinthians,         .  Mr.  Simon  Browne. 

14 


Matthew  Henry. 


210 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


2  Corinthians,  . 
Galatians,  . 
Ephesians,    .  . 
Philippians, 
Colossians,    .  . 

1  Thessalonians, 

2  Thessalonians, 

1  Timothy, 

2  Timothy,  . 
Titus,     .  . 
Philemon, 
Hebrews,  . 
James,     .  . 

1  Peter,  . 

2  Peter,    .  , 
1,  2,  and  3  John, 
Jude,  .    .  . 
Revelations, 


Mr.  Daniel  Mayo. 
Mr.  Joshua  Bayes. 
Mr.  Samuel  Rosewell. 

Mr.  [afterwards  Dr.]  William  Harris. 
^  Mr.  Daniel  Mayo. 
I  Mr.  Benjamin  Andrews  Atkinson. 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Smith. 

Mr.  William  Tong. 
Mr.  William  Wright. 
Mr.  Zech.  Merrill. 
Mr.  Joseph  Hill. 

Mr.  John  Reynolds,  of  Shrewsbury. 

Mr.  John  Billingsley. 
Mr.  William  Toner." 


This  list  is  preserved  here,  as  well  to  show  to 
posterity  to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  the  por- 
tions of  Henry's  Bible  which  he  himself  did  not  live 
to  finish,  as  to  give  the  reader  a  clearer  idea  than 
he  would  perhaps  be  disposed  otherwise  to  enter- 
tain of  the  vast  labor  which  Mr.  Henry  himself 
performed,  in  producing  in  the  course  of  ten  years 
the  five  volumes  which  he  lived  to  complete,  besides 
discharging,  at  the  same  time,  the  ordinary  duties 
of  a  Christian  pastor. 

A  few  extracts  from  his  diary,  respecting  the  prog- 
ress of  the  work,  can  scarcely  fail  to  interest  every 
reader  of  these  pages. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HEMlY. 


211 


"July  19,  1705.  Through  the  good  hand  of  my 
God  upon  me,  I  have  finished  Genesis.  The  Lord 
still  go  on  with  me. 

"September  14.  Studied  in  Exodus  21.  I  am 
now  come  to  the  less  pleasant  part  of  the  Mosaic 
writings ;  but  thanks  be  to  God,  all  Scripture  is 
profitable. 

"XovEMBER  30.  Leviticus  16.  0  that  I  may- 
find  Christ  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  may  be  led 
into  the  mystery  of  godliness.  God  was  manifested 
by  degrees. 

"December  31.  I  have  pleasure  in  my  study  ; 
for  which  I  praise  my  God.  Having  obtained  help 
from  him,  I  go  on  with  much  comfort  to  myself  in 
my  Xotes  on  the  Pentateuch.  Whether  ever  they 
will  be  of  use  to  any  other,  and  be  accepted,  He 
only  knows  who  knows  the  hearts  of  all  the  children 
of  men. 

"August  18, 1*706.  I  almost  finished  Deuterono- 
my 34,  It  is  about  a  year  and  nine  months  since 
I  began  with  Genesis.  Blessed  be  God  who  has 
helped  me.  I  have  written  it  with  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure,  but  ray  thoughts  of  publishing  have  been 
with  fear  and  trembling. 

"August  20.  I  finished  the  review  of  Deuter- 
onomy, and  thanked  God  for  his  assistance;  ashamed 
of  my  own  defects  and  follies.  The  Lord  grant 
they  may  not  be  a  prejudice  to  my  design,  which  is, 
to  contribute  something  as  a  servant  to  that  great 


212 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


divine  intention — to  magnify  the  law,  and  make  it 
honorable, 

September  9.  Read  eighteen  or  twenty  sheets 
on  Genesis,  to  mark  the  errata.  I  have  reason  to 
be  ashamed  of  my  own  errata. 

"  September  23.    Studied  in  the  preface. 

"  September  24.  Went  on  with  the  preface,  in 
which  I  desired  that  every  word  should  be  a  true 
copy  of  my  heart. 

"September  27.  Studied,  preparing  to  begin 
Joshua  in  the  strength  of  God. 

"November  12.  This  evening  I  received  the 
last  of  the  sheets  on  the  Pentateuch,  and  in  them 
the  epistle  of  Mr.  Shower  and  Mr.  Tong,  which  I 
knew  not  of,  nor  ever  mentioned,  or  thought  of,  till 
I  heard  from  Mr.  Parkhurst  [the  printer]  that  they 
had  prefixed  it. 

"November  21.  This  evening  I  received  a  par- 
cel of  the  Exposition  of  the  Pentateuch.  I  desire 
to  bless  God  that  has  given  me  to  see  it  finished.  I 
had  comfort  from  that  promise,  Thou  shalt  find  favor 
and  good  understanding  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man. 

"  December  31.  I,  who  am  unworthy  to  be  em- 
ployed for  God  at  all,  have  been  enabled,  by  his 
free  grace,  to  finish  and  publish  this  year  the  Ex- 
position of  the  Pentateuch,  with  some  hope  of  its 
being  serviceable  to  the  church  of  God.  The  glory 
of  which  I  desire  to  give  entirely  to  God.  I  have 
nothing  in  it  to  boast  of. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


213 


"August  21, 1V07.  Finished  2  Samuel.  Blessed 
be  God,  who  has  carried  me  on  thus  far,  and  makes 
my  work  my  delight. 

"September  10.  Finished  the  reading  over  of 
my  Exposition  to  the  end  of  2  Samuel.  I  have  cause 
to  be  ashamed  of  my  own  defects,  and  thankful  for 
the  grace  of  God  :  the  more  we  do  for  God,  the 
more  we  are  indebted  to  him ;  for  of  thine  own, 
Lord,  have  we  given  thee. 

"September  11.  I  sent  up,  this  day,  my  Expo- 
sition to  the  end  of  2  Samuel,  in  sixty-eight  sheets ; 
having  first  offered  it  to  God  and  to  his  service,  and 
prayed  over  it,  and  every  leaf  in  it,  as  an  answer  to 
prayer. 

"November  17.  2  Kings  11,  to  v.  16.  I  find 
that  just  here  Peter  Martyn  was  in  his  learned  Ex- 
positions when  he  fell  sick  and  died.  Lord,  my 
times  are  in  thy  hand. 

"June  1,  1708.  After  earnest  prayers  to  God 
for  his  presence,  I  this  morning  began  the  third  vol- 
ume of  Expositions :  did  the  argument  of  the  book 
of  Job. 

"January  25,  1709.  Psalms  26  and  27.  A  let- 
ter from  one  Mr.  Samuel  Bere,  unknown,  dated  from 
Exeter,  owning  good  got  by  my  Exposition,  and 
encouraging  me  to  proceed,  for  which  I  praise  my 
God.  It  is  an  encouragement  to  me  to  continue 
here,"  alluding  to  his  invitations  to  London;  "for 
what  reason  have  I  to  think  that  I  should  be  more 


214 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


useful  than  I  am,  -when  God  has  been  pleased  to 
make  me  so  much  more  useful  than  I  am  worthy 
to  be? 

"  December  2*7.  Finished  the  review  of  Proverbs. 
The  Lord  write  in  my  heart  all  these  lessons  of 
wisdom. 

"December  31,  17X0.  And  now,  through  the 
good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  I  am  brought  to  the 
end  of  another  year.  It  has  been  a  year  of  much 
mercy  :  the  coming  out  of  the  third  volume,  and  the 
Method  for  Prayer,  for  which  I  desire  to  bless  God, 
and  give  him  all  the  glory  of  both  ;  for  what  am  I  ? 
I  have  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  myself  that  I  have 
not  done  my  work  better. 

"January  1,  1711.  What  work  I  have  to  do 
for  thee,  O  God,  this  year,  I  depend  upon  tliy  grace 
thoroughly  to  furnish  me  for  it,  and  to  work  all  my 
works  in  me,  particularly  to  assist  me  in  the  great 
work  of  my  Expositions,  that  I  may  write  nothing 
that  is  frivolous,  or  foreign,  or  foolish,  or  flat,  that 
may  give  just  offence,  or  lead  any  into  mistakes ; 
but  that  all  may  be  clear,  and  pertinent,  and  affect- 
ing ;  that  I  may  find  out  genuine  expositions,  useful 
observations,  profitable  matter,  and  acceptable  words, 
if  it  shall  please  God  to  spare  me  to  go  on  with  it. 

"January  6.  Finished  Isaiah,  through  God's 
goodness.    0  that  I  might  retain  the  tincture  of  it. 

"  September  29.  Ezekiel  21.  The  excellent  Cal- 
vin died  at  the  end  of  his  expounding  Ezekiel  20. 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


215 


"May  3,  1712.  Malacbi  4.  Through  the  good 
hand  of  God,  I  have  this  day  finished  the  Exposition 
of  the  Old  Testament.    Blessed  be  God. 

"December  12,  1713.  Began  Acts,  having  first 
made  an  errand  to  the  throne  of  grace  for  assistance. 

"April  17,  1714.  Finished  Acts,  and  with  it 
the  fifth  volume.  Blessed  be  God  that  has  helped 
me,  and  spared  me.    All  praise  be  to  God." 

Surely,  no  one  now  in  possession  of  Mr.  Henry's 
valuable  commentary  can  fail  to  have  his  estimation 
of  it  increased  from  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  which 
the  preceding  extracts  from  his  diary  demonstrate; 
namely,  that  it  was  a  work  preceded,  accompanied, 
followed,  and  pervaded  with  prayer.  And  is  it  not 
reasonable  to  hope,  that  many  now  destitute  of  this 
great  work,  will  speedily  obtain  it,  and  avail  them- 
selves of  its  wise  and  holy  instructions  ? 

It  would  be  easy  to  adduce  numerous  approving 
testimonies  to  the  "  Exposition,"  were  not  the  ne- 
cessity to  do  so  superseded  by  the  high  estimate  in 
which  it  is  so  universally  held.  ^ 

Mr.  Tong  remarked,  that  "As  long  as  the  Bible 
continues  in  England,  Mr.  Henry's  admirable  '  Ex- 
positions '  will  be  prized  by  all  serious  Christians. 
In  them  his  clear  head,  his  warm  heart,  his  life,  his 
eoul  appears.  While  seriously  perusing  those  excel- 
lent books,  besides  many  others  which  he  published, 
rou  will  seem  to  yourselves  to  have  Mr.  Henry  still 
tvith  you." 


216 


MEMOIR  OF  THE 


Another  writer,  Mr.  Buraham,  says,  ''Mr.  Henry's 
admirable  commentary  on  the  Scriptures,  which  hath 
been  blessed  to  the  instruction  and  edification  of 
hundreds  of  ministers,  and  thousands  of  Christians, 
for  more  than  a  century,  still  maintains  its  reputa- 
tion, above  most,  if  not  all  other  commentaries." 

"  I  could  wish,"  says  Dr.  Watts,  "  young  minis- 
ters in  the  country  might  be  allowed  by  their  peo- 
ple to  read  a  part  of  Mr.  Henry's  Exposition  of  the 
Bible,  or  repeat  a  sermon  from  some  good  author, 
one  part  of  the  Lord's  day." 

Dr.  Doddridge  observed,  that  "Mr.  Henry  is, 
perhaps,  the  only  commentator,  so  large,  that  de- 
serves to  be  entirely  and  attentively  read  through. 
The  remarkable  passages  should  be  marked.  There 
is  much  to  be  learned  in  a  speculative,  and  still  more 
in  a  practical  way." 

The  good,  but  eccentric  Mr.  Ryland  of  Northamp- 
ton, was  of  opinion,  that  "it  is  impossible  for  a  per- 
son of  piety  and  taste  to  read  the  Exposition  of  Mr. 
Henry,  without  wishing  to  be  shut  out  from  all  the 
world  to  read  it  through  without  one  moment's  in- 
terruption." 

The  venerable  and  Rev.  W.  Romaine,  in  a  prefa- 
tory recommendation  to  a  folio  edition,  published  in 
1761,  asserted  that  "there  is  no  comment  upon  the 
Bible,  either  ancient  or  modern,  in  all  respects  equal 
to  Mr.  Henry's." 

"  Our  young  preachers,"  said  the  late  revered 


REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


217 


Dr.  Edward  Williams,  "would  do  well  to  read  with 
devotion  and  care  those  parts  of  Mr.  Matthew  Hen- 
ry's practical  and  incomparable  Exposition  which 
relate  to  the  subject  they  would  preach  upon." 

Other  competent  judges  have  observed,  with  equal 
enthusiasm  and  accuracy,  that  *'  the  learned  leisure 
of  the  universities,  or  the  sanctioned  names  of  dig- 
nitaries, may  have  produced  works  which  rank  high- 
er in  the  esteem  of  scholars ;  but  Matthew  Henry- 
stands  without  a  rival  as  an  expositor  of  Scripture, 
for  the  edification  of  the  church  of  God." 

Nor  is  it  feeble  praise  that  the  apostolic  White- 
field,  whose  labors  and  virtues  inspired  even  the  pen 
of  Cowper,  was  trained,  as  a  Christian  and  a  preach- 
er, by  Mr.  Henry's  commentary  ;  that  he  literally 
studied  it  on  his  knees ;  read  it  through  four  times ; 
and  to  the  close  of  life  spoke  of  its  author  with  pro- 
found veneration ;  ever  calling  him  the  great  Mr. 
Henry. 

The  lustre  of  Mr.  Henry's  qualifications  as  a  min- 
ister and  author  was  preeminently  derived  from  his 
superlative  attachment  to  the  Bible.  We  will  close 
these  pages  with  a  few  of  his  own  remarks  in  which 
this  attachment  is  conspicuous. 

"Let  us,"  he  said,  "acquaint  ourselves  with  the 
sweetness  that  is  in  the  word  of  God  ;  and  let  it  be 
sweet  to  us.  Get  a  new  nature,  spiritual  senses  ex- 
ercised. Let  the  objects  of  faith  be  real.  0  taste 
that  the  Lord  is  gracious.   Learn  to  draw  sweetness 


218 


MEMOIR  OF  REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


from  a  promise.  Let  us  value  the  written  word  as 
the  ark  of  the  testament.  Many  reckon  their  Bibles 
only  according  to  the  price  they  cost  them ;  as  if 
the  ark  was  worth  no  more  than  the  gold  with  which 
it  was  overlaid.  Let  us  lay  up  our  Bibles  as  our 
treasure  ;  as  the  Israelites  did  the  ark  in  the  Holy 
of  hohes.  Let  us  lay  them  up  in  our  hearts.  Wher- 
ever we  go,  let  us  take  the  word  of  God  with  us. 
The  Israelites,  in  their  march  through  the  wilderness, 
acted  thus  with  the  ark.  Let  it  dwell  in  us  'richly.' 
Follow  it.  *  When  ye  see  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
of  the  Lord  your  God,  and  the  priests  the  Levites 
bearing  it,  then  shall  ye  remove  from  your  place, 
and  go  after  it.'  Call  the  Bible  your  glory,  and 
dread  its  removal.  Phinehas'  wife,  when  the  ark 
was  taken,  named  her  child  Ichabod — the  glory  is 
departed.  Part  with  all  rather  than  your  Bibles. 
Suffer  not  the  spiritual  Philistines  to  rob  you.  Upon 
all  occasions  consult  those  lively  oracles ;  and,  as 
Moses  received  from  over  the  ark  his  orders  and 
instructions,  so  take  your  measures  by  the  written 
word.  Be  governed  by  it.  Covet,  as  David  did 
the  ark,  to  have  it  near  you." 


PUBLICATIONS 

OF  THE 

AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY. 


These  works  are  not  exceeded  in  high  evangelical  charac- 
ter, spiritual  power,  and  practical  worth,  by  any  spiritual  col- 
lection in  any  language.  They  have  been  carefully  selected 
for  the  great  body  of  intelligent  readers  throughout  the  coun- 
try, and  the  most  watchful  parent  may  supply  them  to  his  fam- 
ily or  to  others,  not  only  with  safety  to  their  best  and  eternal 
interests,  but  with  hope  of  the  richest  spiritual  blessings. 


D'Aubigse's  History  of  the  Re- 
formation. A  new  translation, 
revised  l>v  the  author,  in  four  vol- 
umes l2mo  with  portraits.  Price 
SI  T.5  e.xtra  cloth. 

Baxtkr's  Saints'  Everlasting 
Rest,  12mo,  in  large  type  ;  also 
18mo. 

Busyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress, 
r2ino,  in  large  type,  and  l8mo.  Both 
editions  neatly  illustrated. 

Jay's  Morning  Exercises. 

Mason's  r«piRiTCAL  Treascry,  for 
every  day  in  the  year.  Terse,  pithy, 
and  evangelical. 

Flavel's  Fountain  of  Life,  or  Re- 
demption procidvd. 

Fl.*.vel's  Method  of  Grace,  or  Re- 
demption applied  to  the  Souls  of 
Men. 

Bishop  Hall's  Scripture  Histo- 
ry, or  Contemplations  on  the  His-| 
torical  Passages  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments. 

Bishop  Hopkins  on  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments. Two  standard  works 
of  the  times  of  Baxter. 

President  Edwards'  Thocqhts 
ON  Revivals. 

Venn's  Complete  Duty  of  Man.  | 

Owen  on  Forgiveness,  or  Psalm 
cxxx.  I 

Gregory's  (OuNTHcg,  LL.D.)  Ev-| 

IDKNCE8  OF  ChRISTIASITY.  I 


Paley's  Natural  Theology. 
Dr.  Spring's  Bible  not  of  Man, 
or  the  .Argument  for  the  Divine 
Origin  of  the  Scriptures  drawn 
from  the  Scriptures  themselves. 
Nelson's  Cause  and  Cure  of  In- 
fidelity. 
Memoir  of  Mrs.  Isabella  Gra- 
ha.m.     a  new  and  standard  edi- 
tion. 

Me.moir  of  Mrs.  Sarah  L  Hunt- 
ington Smith. 
Sacred  Songs  for  Family  and 
Social  Worship.  Hymns  and 
Tunes— with  a  separate  edition  in 
patent  notes.  Also,  the  Hymns 
separately. 
Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress 

OF  Religion  in  the  Soul. 
Edwards'  History  of  Redemp- 
tion. 

I  VoLu.ME  ON  Infidelity,  comprising 
five  standard  treatises  :  Soame  Jen- 
yns  on  the  Internal  Evidence  ;  Les- 
lie's Method  with  Deists ;  Little- 
ton's Conversion  of  Paul ;  Watson's 
Reply  to  Gibbon  and  Paine. 
Pike  s  Persuasives  to  Early  Pi- 
ety. 

I  Pike's  Guide  to  Youno  Disciples. 
j  Anecdotes  for  the  Family  and 
I    THE  Social  Circle.  , 

|U.N1VER9ALI3M  not  OF  GoD. 

iDibblk'9  Thocohts  on  Missions. 


2 


ELEGANT  PRACTICAL  WORKS. 


Wilbkrforce's  Practical  View. 
Hannah  Mork's  Practical  Piety. 
Jamks'  Anxious  Inquirer. 
Jay's  Christian  (Contemplated. 
Elijah  the  Tishbite. 
Nevins'  Practical  Thoughts. 
Melvill's  Bible  Thoughts,  se- 
lected by  late  Rev.  Dr.  Milnor. 


Harris'  Mammon. 
Gurney's  Love  to  God. 
Foster's  Appeal  to  the  Youno- 
Abbott's  Young  Christian. 
Abbott's  Mother  at  Home. 
Abbott's  Child  at  Home. 
James'  Young  Man  from  Home. 


CHRISTIAN  MEMOIRS. 


Rev.  Claudius  Buchanan,  LL.D., 
including  his  Christian  Researches 
in  Asia. 

Rev.  John  Newton. 

Rev.  Henry  Martyn. 

Rev.  David  Bhainerd. 

Rev.  Edward  Payson,  D.  D. 

Harriet  L.  Winslow,  Missionary 
in  India. 

James  Braimerd  Taylor. 


Harlan  Page. 

Normand  Smith. 

Richard  Baxter. 

Archbishop  Leiqhton. 

Matthew  Henry. 

Rev.  C.  F.  Schwartz,  Missionary 

to  India. 
Rev.  Samuel  Pearck. 
Rev.  Sami'el  Kilpin. 
Hannah  Hobbie. 


OTHER  SPIRITUAL  WORKS. 


Edwards  on  the  Affections. 
Baxter's  Call  to  the  Uncon- 
verted. 

Alleine's  Alarm  to  the  Uncon- 
verted. 
Flavel's  Touchstone. 
Flavel  on  Keeping  the  Heart. 
Helffenstein's  Self-Deception. 
Pike's  Rkliq.  and  Eternal  Life. 


Sherman's  Guide  to  an  Acquaint- 
ance with  God. 

Baxter's  Dying  Thoughts. 

Matthew  Henry  on  Meekness. 

Andrew  Fuller's  Backslider. 

Scudder's  Redeemer's  Last  Com- 
mand. 

Scudder's  Appeal  to  Mothers. 
Burder's  Sermons  to  the  Aued« 


MISCELLANEOUS  WORKS. 


Bogue's  Evidences  of  < 'HRIst'y. 
Keith's  Evidence  of  Prophecy. 
Morison's  Counsels  to  Young 
Men. 

The  Reformation  in  Europe. 
Nevins'  Thoughts  on  Popery. 
Spirit  of  Popery,  [with  12  engs.] 


The  Colporteur  and  Roman  Ca- 
tholic. 

Mason  on  Self-Knowledge. 

Beecher  on  Intemperance. 

Raising  of  Lazarus  from  th« 
Dead. 

Hymns  for  Social  Worship. 


POCKET  MANUALS. 


Clarke's  Scripture  Promises. 
The  Book  of  Psalms. 
The  Book  of  Proverbs. 
Daily  Scripture  Expositor. 
Gems  of  Sacred  Poetry. 
Bean  and  Venn's  Advice  to 
if.  Married  Couple. 
Reasons  of  Repose. 
Daily  Food  for  Christians. 


Heavenly  Manna. 

Cecil  and   Flavel's  Gift  for 

Mourners. 
Daily  Texts. 

Diary,  [Daily  Texts  interleaved.] 
Crumbs  from  thb  AL^-STer's  Ta- 
ble. 

Milk  for  Babes. 
Devz-Drops. 


BOOKS  FOR  THE  YOUNG. 


3 


MANY  OF  THEM  BEAUTIFULLY  ILLUSTRATED  WITH  ENGRAVINGS. 


Galladdkt's  Script.  Biography, 

7  vols.,  from  Adam  to  David. 
Galladdkt's  Youth's  Boos  or 

Natural  Thkology. 
Child's  Book  on  Repentance. 
Peep  of  Day. 
I-iNE  UPON  Line. 
Precept  upon  Precept. 
Amelia, THE  Pastor's  Daughter. 
Trees,  Fruits,  and  Flowers  of 

the  Bible,  [9  cuts.] 
Elizabeth  Bales.  By  John  Angell 

James. 
Emily  Maria. 

Newton's  Letters  to  an  Adopt- 
ed Daughter. 
Child's  Book  on  the  Sabbath. 
Nathan  W.  Dickerman. 
Mary  Lothrop. 
John  Mooney  Mead. 


I  Henry  Obookiah. 

Caroline  Hyde. 

Gallaudet's  Life  of  Josiah. 
I  The  Dairyman's  Daughter,  etc. 

Charles  L.  Winslow. 

Withered  Branch  Revived. 

Peet's  Scripture  Lessons. 

Child's  Book  of  Bible  Stories. 
j  Children  of  the  Bible. 
I  Amos  Armfield,  or  the  Leather- 
I    covered  Bible. 

.The  Child's  Hymn-Book.  Select- 
ed by  Miss  Caulkins. 
Scripture  Animals,  [16  cuts.] 
.Letters  to  Little  Childrin, 

I    [13  cuts.] 

[Pictorial  Tract  Primer. 

I  Watts'  Divine  and  Moral  Songs. 

I  With  Dumerons  similai  works. 


ALSO— 


Dr.  Edwards*  Sabbath  Manual,  |  In  German— 31  vols 
Parts  1,  2,  3,  and  4.  In  French— 12  volu 

Dr.  Edwahds' Temperance  Man- |  In  Welsh 

UAL. 


various  sizes, 
mes. 

Pilgrim's  Progress  and 
Baxter's  Saints'  ilest  and  Call. 


Also,  upwards  of  1,000  Tracts  and  Children's  Tracts,  separate,  bound,  or 
tn  packets,  adapted  for  convenient  sale  by  merchants  and  traders,  many  of 
them  with  beautiful  engravings — in  English,  German,  French,  Spanish,  Por- 
tognese,  Italian,  Dutch,  Danish,  Swedish,  and  Welsh. 


It  is  the  design  of  the  Society  to  issue  all  its  publications  in  good  type, 
for  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich  ;  and  to  sell  them,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  at 
cost,  that  the  Society  may  neither  sustain  loss  nor  make  a  profit  by  all  its 
sales. 


Date  Due 


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